Grading Denver Nuggets trade targets from no-brainer to must-avoid

No-brainer trade target: Mason Plumlee

Bring Mason Plumlee back! If only it were that easy. He was moved from Charlotte to Los Angeles at last year's deadline, and he's been with the Clippers for the past year. Plumlee missed a few months with a knee injury this season, so he's been limited to 19 contests. He's averaging 6.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Plumlee signed a one-year, $5 million deal with LA during the offseason so Denver could work out a deal to reunite with the backup center. The issue is that it hasn't been reported that the Clippers are shopping Plumlee, even though they employ Ivica Zubac and Daniel Theis.

As nice as it'd be to have the former Nugget come off the bench in the non-Jokic minutes, it's likelier that Denver will have to face Plumlee and LA in the playoffs. If he were available, though, he should be at the top of the Nuggets' wishlist.

Must-avoid trade target: Delon Wright

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Feb. 4 that Delon Wright was mentioned as a "possible Nuggets trade target" (subscription required). The 31-year-old guard is averaging 4.4 points and 2.8 assists per game with the Wizards this season, shooting 38.6% from the field and 37.1% from three.

Denver should avoid a Wright trade because he wouldn't be an upgrade over Jackson. He's a better defender but wouldn't move the needle that much. Wright will be an unrestricted free agent over the summer, which would pose an issue. The Nuggets could potentially re-sign him for cheap, but assuming they'd be able to do so would be a gamble.