4 Michael Porter Jr. trades the Denver Nuggets should strongly consider
By Ben Handler
Trade #2: 3 team deal gives the Nuggets a little bit of everything
MPJ > Philly
This deal works because each team gets what they want. The Blazers get younger and add valuable draft capital for their rebuild, the Sixers add a perfect third option to slot in between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and the Nuggets get an entire bench.
The Nuggets get Brogdon, a veteran guard who can score and shoot with the best of them, Thybulle, one of the best wing defenders in the entire NBA, and a solid backup center in Reed. This move would give the Nuggets and coach Michael Malone a ridiculous amount of versatility and optionality that he hasn’t been able to work with.
They’d add depth and gain financial flexibility with three small contracts that are close to expiring if the team wants to move on and free up some money. It’s a good way to get off the Porter Jr. contract while improving at the same time. Brogdon is arguably a better shooter than Porter and can handle the ball and get to the rim in a way MPJ never could.
Thybulle isn’t a good offensive player, but along with KCP and Gordon, he could turn the Nuggets' defense into an elite unit. Reed would be the best backup Jokic has had in ages Like the Jazz trade, this assumes Braun will step into the starting lineup at small forward and the newly acquired players will help make up a vastly improved bench.
Starting Lineup:
G - Jamal Murray
G - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
F - Christian Braun
F - Aaron Gordon
C - Nikola Jokic
Bench:
G - Malcolm Brogdon
F - Matisse Thybulle
F - Peyton Watson
C - Paul Reed