5 Denver Nuggets who could be traded during the season

At least for the time being, it appears the Nuggets’ roster is set to start the 2024-25 season. They’ve used the assets at their disposal and filled out the roster with a couple of veteran free agents and young players on two-way contracts.

Fans were pretty down on the team’s offseason early on, and rightfully so. They lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, saw DaRon Holmes suffer a brutal achilles tear, and doled out 2nd round picks while adding nothing.

But as time went on, the outlook changed a bit, and the vision for the future of the team has become a bit clearer and more inspiring. Julian Strawther got the vibes going in a positive direction with a couple of excellent Summer League performances; it looks like he can be a real contributor this season.

Then the team signed a couple of reliable veterans in Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. They should bolster the bench and add some much-needed veteran leadership to the second unit. Adding these household names, especially the former MVP Westbrook, seems to have dragged some fans back into believing.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, was the dominant play of Nikola Jokic for Team Serbia at the Olympics in Paris. He was so incredibly brilliant, his performance seems to have reminded people what a special player he is and how this team’s title window is open as long as he’s in Denver.

With all of that said, Jokic’s play was also a reminder that the team is under pressure. He won’t be at this level forever and the team cannot afford to squander the opportunity in front of them. They have a few years of this version of the Joker and they need to take advantage and give him and the Nuggets the best possible chance to compete for titles.

The front office seems confident in the direction and the current state of the roster, but a slow start to the season could change that thinking pretty quickly. Just because the team is set for now, doesn’t mean it will stay that way. 

Whether the team has a disappointing start and is looking to shake things up, or simply being opportunistic and looking to upgrade, they’ll surely be closely monitoring the trade market. Here’s a look at 5 Nuggets who could be traded during the season for one reason or another.

1.) Michael Porter Jr.

This name likely doesn’t come as a surprise to Nuggets fans who have been following the team and the rumors surrounding it. But that doesn’t mean it has become any less accurate. MPJ finds himself in an odd position; he’s a good player and clearly important to the Nuggets. But he’s also overpaid and the least important of the Nuggets’ core four players.

He’s young enough to hold some trade value despite his contract and could be appealing to teams who crave a big wing who can knock down shots. If the Nuggets decide to make a major shakeup during the season, Porter Jr. is easily the most likely candidate to be moved.

His salary would allow the team to bring back almost any non-superstar, max contract player in the league, or perhaps several solid players to add depth to the rotation. Shedding his contract would also open up the Nuggets’ books for the future and allow them to more easily sign other players and add talent down the road.