The Denver Nuggets need to get younger and more athletic via the NBA Draft. They also need to cut salary to get under the NBA's second apron threshold to avoid the roster construction penalties that come with it. But which is more important? In a draft that's supposedly the deepest in years, it feels like trading away the Nuggets' first-round pick to get off Zeke Nnaji's contract might be a step in the wrong direction.
But that's what the latest rumor from HoopsHype and Michael Scotto suggest the Nuggets are thinking about doing. The franchise's first first-round pick in two years, and a chance to find a quality player who could either contribute right away or develop into a star defender, would just slip away. All because of an extension that should have never been handed out in the first place.
"With the Denver Nuggets currently projected to be near the second apron, they’ve signaled a willingness to discuss forward Zeke Nnaji and the No. 26 pick as a trade package, league sources told HoopsHype."
What is this? Mere days ago, the rumor was that the Nuggets wanted to trade up. Now they're out here attaching the first round pick to dump Nnaji's contract?
The Nuggets should draft and trade Nnaji in another deal
The Nuggets wanted to get younger and more athletic this offseason. They wanted ball control, defensive upgrades, and they could find it all in this year's draft, depending on the prospect available when the Nuggets are put on the clock. Prospects like Dailyn Swain, Ebuka Okorie, Zuby Ejiofor, and the list goes on, who could possibly be available at pick number 26 of the first round.
Trading up for a player like Morez Johnson Jr. or Yaxel Lendeborg would have made a bunch of sense for the Nuggets. Two players who could come in and play right away. But now we hear about the Nuggets trying to trade their way out of the first round for the second year in a row, and on pace for three in a row, thanks to trading the 2027 first-rounder to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unless it falls in the top five, it's gone. It's doubtful the Nuggets are a lottery team next year to qualify.
The Nuggets' draft future is a mess. Their finances are too, but are they forgetting the rookie contract is close to the veteran minimum? Are they really about to try to save $1 million, here, or there? Yes, they do need to move Nnaji and his $7.4 million this year, and his player option for $7.4 million for 2027-28. But there has to be another deal that the Nuggets can add Nnaji to. Right?
It just feels like the Nuggets would be going backward by not trying to capitalize on the talent available in this year's draft class to shed salary. Let's hope the rumor of the Nuggets moving up comes true rather than trading out of the first round.
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