Fantastic: Nuggets Unveils Five(5) Prospective Trade Targets Post December 15
The Nuggets will be searching for help before the trade deadline.
The Denver Nuggets have their sights set on a second straight championship. Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world, and the franchise believes this could be year two of a dynasty. They are near the top of the standings, despite a recent rough patch, but do the Nuggets need to add before the Feb. 8 trade deadline?
Denver lost Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in the offseason who were two of their top seven rotation players in the postseason. They may need some extra depth if their young talent isn’t ready to step up. Christian Braun has shown flashes, but will Michael Malone trust him in the playoffs? The Nuggets may have a hole to fill.
December 15 is an important day in the NBA calendar. Most players who were signed in the offseason become eligible to be traded, including Reggie Jackson, Justin Holiday, and DeAndre Jordan. The Nuggets will have more flexibility in making moves, but who could they acquire?
5. Torrey Craig
Craig got his first crack in the NBA in Denver where he became a quality rotation piece. He left after three seasons and signed with the Bucks in 2020. He has since played for four different teams, including his current franchise, the Bulls. Craig is getting 21.1 minutes per game and offering production, despite the team’s struggles.
The Nuggets would love to add another 6’7 wing, who can defend multiple positions and sink open shots. They have missed Bruce Brown and Jeff Green to begin the new season, and Craig could help make up for that lost production. He is not a lockdown defender or elite shooter, but Denver only has second-round picks to offer in trades. Craig is an affordable option who could play a key role in the playoffs.
The veteran wing is not the only Bulls target the Denver Nuggets might explore before the deadline.
4. Jevon Carter
Carter signed a three-year $19.5 million contract with the Bulls in the offseason and becomes eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. The 6’1 guard has struggled to find his footing in Chicago, but he continues to make shots and play stout defense.
Carter is best playing 20 to 25 minutes per game on a contender where he can play all-out defense. He is a career 39.4 percent 3-point shooter and is not someone teams want to leave open. There is some overlap in Chicago playing behind Alex Caruso, and Carter will certainly be shopped if the Bulls decide to rebuild before the deadline.
Jevon Carter has struggled to get minutes in the playoffs but may play a smaller but similar role to Bruce Brown in Denver. He could guard on the ball and be an impactful defender off the bench. His size would limit his ability to switch, but there could be a ten to 20-minute per-game role available.
The Denver Nuggets would have to cobble together multiple salaries and consider trading Zeke Nnaji to acquire Jevon Carter. It is something to explore, especially if they believe the 28-year-old can take his game to another level in the Mile High City.
3. Dennis Smith Jr.
The Nuggets have a crucial decision to make about their backup point guard spot. They re-signed Reggie Jackson to a two-year $10.2 million contract in the offseason after he fell out of their playoff rotation in 2023. Jackson is off to an outstanding start to this season, but does Denver need more defense when the games matter most?
The Nets signed Dennis Smith Jr. to a one-year minimum contract in the offseason. The former lottery pick was virtually out of the league before resurrecting his career with the Hornets in 2023. He is not a shooter and has lost his elite bounce, but DSJ plays stout defense and makes plays.
Brooklyn is in the Play-In Tournament mix right now. Do the Nets decide to buy or sell at the deadline? They need additional help if they want to make a deep playoff run. Would Brooklyn push further in and risk maxing out as a fringe playoff contender? It is no easy decision, but it could lead to a soft sell.
The Denver Nuggets could acquire Dennis Smith Jr. on the cheap and have another option to turn to in the postseason. If they need an offensive boost, Reggie Jackson will be ready, but the Nuggets could use Smith Jr. to lockdown a surging guard on the perimeter.
2. Monte Morris
The former Nugget can be traded right now, but Denver would have to wait until Dec. 15 for Reggie Jackson, DeAndre Jordan, or Justin Holiday to be able to be sent out as matching salary in the deal. Jackson’s $5.0 million salary will likely be a key contract if the Nuggets decide to make a trade before the deadline.
Morris is on a $9.8 million expiring deal and is currently out with a quad injury. He has not played this season and it was announced he would miss six to eight more weeks in late November. Fans should not expect to see the 6’2 guard until mid-January, but the Pistons will look to move him before the deadline. They are 2-20 on the season and headed toward another high lottery selection.
The Nuggets drafted Morris in the second round in 2017, and he played his first five years in Denver. They traded him to get Kentaivous Caldwell-Pope in the 2022 offseason, but he remains a skilled guard. He can space the floor, defend, and make plays. Morris would be a fantastic reserve option for a contender if he can get healthy.
The Denver Nuggets will explore every avenue to improve their roster, and Monte Morris figures to be a low-cost option that could provide significant postseason impact.
1. Royce O’Neale
The Nuggets need a trusted 3-and-D wing who can play significant minutes in the playoffs. They would love to find someone to fill Bruce Brown’s 26.5 per game from last season’s run. Ideally, they get a player with a bit more size, so he can defend multiple positions. Denver’s limited draft capital will make things tough, but they should call the Nets.
Brooklyn has a glut of wings and had O’Neale on the trade block in the offseason. They wanted a first-round pick, but could not find a match. Expect the Nets to shop him again before the deadline. The Nuggets have to hope the asking price comes down, so they can get involved.
This would likely be an all-in move for Denver. They can put five second-round picks on the table for Royce O’Neale and hope that interests Brooklyn. The 6’4 wing is on an expiring contract and will likely leave in free agency next summer. Getting five second-rounders is better than nothing.
Royce O’Neale is the 3-and-D wing the Denver Nuggets need. Will they make the move? The defending champions have a plan and want to make it back-to-back titles. Expect them to be active and aggressive, so stay tuned for all the latest.
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