For a brief period, it seemed like Zach LaVine to the Nuggets was really going to happen. The rumor came out of left field but gained steam quickly. Reports came out that the Nuggets had “significant interest” in adding the two-time all-star from the Chicago Bulls.
But these rumors went nowhere and now the reports suggest that there is “pessimism” that this deal will ever actually get done. It sounds like the Nuggets were open to sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Bulls for LaVine, but the Bulls refused to take back Zeke Nnaji and his four-year, $32 million fully guaranteed contract.
Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype is the latest to report that the Bulls are unwilling to take Nnaji and don’t want to use any of their own assets to re-route him to a third team. With Nnaji’s $8.8 million salary this season necessary to make the math work, the Nuggets are out of luck unless they can find a taker for Nnaji - which is unlikely.
Hoops Hype: Executives believe Nuggets should make a run at Jimmy Butler
Scotto was reporting that the LaVine to Denver deal is off for now, but he also reported that he spoke to NBA executives and scouts who believe the Nuggets should instead, be going after Jimmy Butler.
Butler trade rumors were heating up last month with his preferred destinations even being reported, but Pat Riley came out with a public statement that the team would not be trading Butler. Still, those are just words and nothing is written in stone.
That statement was likely a reflection of the market for Butler and Riley attempting to quiet the noise around the situation. Jimmy is in the final year of his contract and has said he will decline his player option for next season and hit free agency unless he gets a max contract extension.
Thus far, the Heat have been unwilling to meet that price and appear ready to play hardball with the 35-year-old Butler. That hasn’t worked very well for teams in the past and while the Heat aren’t those other organizations and Butler is a lot older, it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t be open to a trade offer they liked.
Whether or not the Nuggets can offer a deal they like is another story. Porter Jr. would be the main selling point. If Miami fancies the 26 year old wing shooter, then this could work. The Nuggets would have to throw in about $12 million in additional salary and the rest of their remaining draft capital - which isn’t much.
It’s certainly not a godfather offer, but it’s the best Denver can do and it could be worth a shot. Jimmy would come with plenty of baggage and his own issues with spacing and durability. But when Butler is on the court, there’s no doubt he’s still an elite two-way player and he’d immediately make the Nuggets a much better basketball team.