NBA trade season has gone from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye. Just days after the December 15th date came and passed we’ve seen a flurry of trades and even more rumors come out.
Most of the rumors have surrounded floundering teams that are looking to sell off players and start rebuilding their teams. But in a surprise twist, a report from the Athletic has come out indicating that the Denver Nuggets are one of hte most active and aggressive teams on the trade market.
It makes sense because this Nuggets team is clearly lacking depth and talent. They have a small window to compete while Nikola Jokic is at the top of his game, but after 24 games, it has become clear that the roster around him is not good enough.
Tony Jones and Sam Amick reported that the Nuggets are pursuing “significant help offensively” and that they’ve expressed interest or had preliminary trade talks about multiple players. One name that was singled out was Zach LaVine of the Bulls, and the Athletic report says the Nuggets’ interest is “significant”.
Trading MPJ for LaVine would be lateral move at best
LaVine is 29 years old, makes $43 million this season, almost $46 million next season, and has a $48.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. He has made two All Star games in his career and is averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season.
LaVine is also a great shooter on and off the ball; he can fly around screens for catch-and-shoot opportunities, but he’s also excellent at creating his own shot; a skill that the Nuggets are desperately lacking.
The issue for the Nuggets is that any LaVine trade starts and ends with Michael Porter Jr. due to the contract situation. On paper, LaVine may seem like a clear upgrade over MPJ, but for what the Nuggets need, that may not be the case.
MPJ is three years younger and after injury issues early in his career has been far more durable. Porter Jr. has quietly been one of the more reliable guys in the league, playing in 81 games last season and all 24 so far this season. He has become a rock for Denver and his chemistry and continuity with Jokic, Murray, and Gordon cannot be understated.
On top of that, Porter Jr. is several inches taller than LaVine. He has become a much better defender in recent years and he is a very good rebounder. Turning MPJ into LaVine would make the team smaller, worse at rebounding, and worse on defense - areas they already struggle with.
As good as a Jamal Murray/Zach LaVine backcourt could be on offense, it could be equally disastrous - and perhaps even unplayable in the playoffs - on the defensive side of the ball.
Another mark in favor of Porter Jr. is his role within the team. He is perfectly content to do his job, running around screens, spacing the floor, and knocking down shots. While it would be nice in theory to have another guy to run the offense, do the Nuggets really want to take the ball out of Jokic’s hands?
Furthermore, would LaVine be content playing a lower-usage role? He has never proven he can fit into a winning team and right now that’s the only goal in Denver. Everyone agrees that the Nuggets need an upgrade, but swapping a young core player in Porter Jr. for an oft-injured, aging, offense-only player on a bad contract is far from the slam dunk some people seem to think it is.