The Denver Nuggets are the defending champs, but they have struggled in recent games. With the offensive tactics relying so much on Nikola Jokic’s effectiveness, Jamal Murray’s absence has severely harmed their depth. It’s only a hiccup for the Nuggets, who are still considered the favorites to win the championship, but some of their flaws are showing early in the season.
Murray, Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are unlikely to be traded this season because their starting lineup is unlikely to change. Moving on to the bench, most of their items do not have a lot of market worth, therefore it is not wise to make a deal for them. However, there are two players who may be a buy-low acquisition for a team that would use their talents on a regular basis.
These two players are Reggie Jackson and Zeke Nnaji, but one must be traded shortly.
Zeke Nnaji has been hyped up by some in the NBA industry, but he has not been given consistent minutes under Nuggets coach Michael Malone. There have been numerous centers like Mason Plumlee, DeMarcus Cousins, and Thomas Bryant who have been tasked to be the backup center of Nikola Jokic. This season, it has been Nnaji, but he has been averaging only 10 minutes per game.
Despite the fact that he has not thrived in this job, he signed an extension before the start of this season. Nnaji have talent, but he has not been given adequate opportunities to play on the largest platform. Because of his athleticism and outside shooting, he is a great stretch 5 for a club like the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors.
These two teams have some fantastic big men, but their second units have a lot of questions on the inside. Nnaji has been underutilized in Denver, but his potential will be realized if he is moved to a team that can employ him for more than 20 minutes per game. The challenge for the Nuggets is to find a significant return that would be a better fit as Jokic’s backup center.
That has been a continuous problem for Denver because the non-Jokic minutes on the floor have been abysmal for their organization. If they can get that versatile and stocky big man who is perfect for Malone’s culture, Nnaji could be that player who will be dealt. The recent extension gives the opposing franchise leverage because they will not lose him right away in free agency, so they can experiment with Nnaji as their athletic center.
A Zeke Nnaji exchange could benefit both parties involved. The reason for selecting Nnaji over Reggie Jackson is that Nnaji will deliver a higher return than Jackson. Nnaji can be productive on both ends of the court, and his style of play is more suited to today’s fast-paced game.
The Nuggets do not need to make any big moves, but even a little move can boost their chances of repeating as champions in 2024. We’ll see whether the Denver front staff makes any deals this season to help their chances of repeating.
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