Now that the Nuggets have finally started to sign free agents, the roster is taking shape. This offseason has been slow and disappointing for many fans, but by drafting DaRon Holmes II, signing Dario Saric, and re-signing Vlatko Cancar, the Nuggets have done a nice job of building out their frontcourt depth. Throw in an expected bump in minutes for Peyton Watson and the Nuggets should have a pretty strong forward and center rotation.
But these moves have also created a bit of a logjam that leaves very little room for Zeke Nnaji. Zeke fell out of the rotation last season and the offseason moves suggest that the team has lost faith in Nnaji’s ability to carve out a role with the team.
That’s certainly a shame as the Nuggets had high hopes for Nnaji, but it’s made even worse by the fact that they gave him an extension last offseason which kicks in this season and lasts for four seasons. Nnaji will make $8.8 million next season to likely not even factor into the Denver rotation.
The Nuggets need to trade Zeke Nnaji
Hindsight is 20/20 but that’s a tough contract and a brutal use of resources by the Nuggets. Given the current roster, it would make a ton of sense to actively shop Nnaji and see if they can turn him into a useful player who can actually help the team - ideally a guard or a wing who can handle and/or shoot.
A huge issue making a Nnaji trade more difficult is the Nuggets’ lack of tradeable draft picks. As it stands, they can only send out their 2031 first-round pick, which is an asset they are likely (and correctly) hesitant to part with - especially not to simply dump Nnaji’s contract.
Sure, the team could dangle the pick and even attach some young players to Nnaji in an attempt to go big-game hunting to an extent, but that seems unlikely. Realistically, they’ll probably try to swap Zeke for a veteran who can contribute off the bench and fill a need.
For the sake of this exercise, we’ll focus on one-for-one trades where the Nuggets would send out Nnaji and bring back a single player. The key is identifying rebuilding teams who may be willing to get a look at the 23-year-old Nnaji and give him extended minutes who also has a veteran who may not serve a purpose for that team.
The list of names who fit that mold isn’t the most inspiring group of players, but they are guys who could give the Nuggets rotation minutes this season - something Nnaji seems very unlikely to do. Here are four realistic players the Nuggets should target in a trade for Zeke Nnaji.
Trade target no. 1) - Vasilije Micic, Charlotte Hornets
This one makes sense for both sides. The Hornets are leaning into a full rebuild and a youth movement which isn’t a great situation for the 30-year-old Micic. Though he was an NBA rookie last season, Micic has been dominating professionally in Europe for years. He’s big for a point guard, but he can play with or without the ball, run an offense, and hit shots.
He would be an amazing addition to the Nuggets bench and could slot in nicely with the starting unit at times, possibly even closing some games. His defense isn’t great, but he makes up for it in other areas, especially his elite passing.
Watching Micic work with either Nikola Jokic or Saric would be beautiful and we could truly get to witness some incredible ball movement. The fact that he’s Serbian and has a connection with Jokic should only increase the Nuggets’ desire to add him.
The Hornets have a lot of young guards and they need to see what they’ve got, but their big man depth is pretty thin. It would be reasonable for them to add Nnaji and give him a real chance to play through some growing pains. Nnaji has shown some promise in the NBA and there’s definitely a chance he could play his way into a real role. This trade almost makes too much sense for both sides.
Trade target no. 2) - Georges Niang, Cleveland Cavaliers
Niang is a fringe rotation player at best, but he’s a sharpshooting wing and the Nuggets need shooting more than anything. The team has plenty of defensive-minded, athletic wing players like Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, but a true sniper off the bench like Niang would be a valuable thing to have.
At 31, Niang is not the most fleet-footed or athletic player, but he has a big body for a wing player and he uses it well. He has actually held up surprisingly well on the defensive end as long as he’s not tasked with guarding elite perimeter creators who can blow by him consistently.
But on offense, he spaces the floor in a way defenses really have to respect and his gravity would make life easier for his teammates. He may not be a guy who can give the team much in the playoffs, but he could be a great innings-eater in the regular season and would have situational utility due to his shooting.
The Cavs aren’t a rebuilding team, but they have several better versions of him on their roster, and behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley they are very thin up front. Last year they were giving real playoff rotation minutes to the corpse of Tristan Thompson, so there’s a shot Nnaji could actually log major minutes for them off the bench. This trade makes sense for both teams from a roster balance perspective.
Trade target no. 3) - Jevon Carter, Chicago Bulls
This hypothetical deal fits the conventional mold more as the Bulls finally seem ready to lean into a rebuild after trading away Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan. They’ve invested in a young backcourt of Josh Giddey and Coby White, leaving little room for the 28-year-old point guard, Carter.
Carter is a reliable backup, a scrappy, hard-nosed defender who can capably run a second unit and shoot threes. He’s not much more than your stereotypical backup point guard, but that’s exactly what the Nuggets need right now.
Carter would instantly become the second-best ballhandler on the team (behind Jamal Murray) and one of their best shooters and perimeter defenders as well. It wouldn’t be a sexy move, but he’d fit exactly what Denver needs.
The Bulls basically have no big men on their team behind the aging Nikola Vucevic (who makes very little sense on their current roster). Nnaji would have a clear path to immediate playing time and a great opportunity to prove himself as an NBA rotation player.
The Nuggets should shoot for the moon and ask for Ayo Dosunmu first. The Bulls would be crazy to do that deal, but their front office has certainly made some puzzling decisions in the past so it’s worth a try. When they (likely say no), Carter is a natural pivot that should work for both sides in this scenario.
Trade target no. 4) - Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons
This deal would be a bit unorthodox as Sasser was just drafted last season to a team that is clearly rebuilding. But the Pistons have way too many guards and guys who need the ball to make sense. They almost have to make some sort of deal to send out a guard and Sasser could end up being the odd man out.
Despite his inexperience in the NBA, he had an outstanding college career at Houston and he’s actually a few months older than the four-year pro, Nnaji. The Pistons would be getting back an even younger player and one at a position of need. They need guys who don’t need the ball and Nnaji could focus on his strengths; rebounding, rim protection, screening, cutting, and causing havoc.
Sasser is a bulldog on defense and a very smart offensive player. Michael Malone has been reluctant to trust young players, but Sasser came into the league NBA-ready. He is capable of leading the second unit and would bring a great boost of energy and tenacity, especially on the defensive end.
He can pressure a defense with his dribble, make the right pass, and also hit shots. Put in a position to play with good players, he could really thrive and develop into a very good bench player. Taking back a player still on a rookie deal would also be a nice win for the Nuggets as they could lower their payroll next season by several million dollars.
There’s no telling if the Pistons would have any interest in this deal, but it can’t hurt to ask. Nnaji may be a guy they like and someone they’d be happy to take a chance on.