NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 teams that could use Emmanuel Mudiay

The NBA Trade Deadline was moved up this year and is rapidly approaching. The Denver Nuggets have moved their former starting point guard Emmanuel Mudiay out of the rotation, and a change of scenery could be what the young player needs to find success in the league.

Emmanuel Mudiay was rumored to be included in a potential trade during the 2017 offseason with the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Eric Bledsoe. Since then, the seventh pick in the 2015 draft has been moved out of the starting lineup for Jamal Murray, and was completely removed from the rotation in the middle of December.

The Nuggets could try to attach Mudiay with another player to move in exchange for a veteran backup point guard or an upgrade on the wing. It doesn’t seem like his future in the league is with the Nuggets, and teams could be interested in acquiring him with another year on his contract so they can get a first-hand look to help evaluate whether to offer him a second contract.

Here are a few teams that could take a chance on Mudiay.

The Nuggets haven’t been shy about their need for a point guard. They were in the market for Eric Bledsoe prior to the draft, only to see that trade fall through, with the Suns eventually moving Bledsoe to Milwaukee. They were rumored to be interested in George Hill, but the former Indiana Pacers guard took a big payday and signed with the Kings.

The Kings have been terrible this season, and are on their way to another top-5 pick in the NBA Draft. They drafted their point guard of the future in De’Aaron Fox, and Frank Mason has been capable in a backup role. Hill has seen himself play more of an off-ball role for Sacramento, but they would be better served giving those minutes to Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic, both of whom need playing time to develop into the players they can become.

Hill can play as a backup point guard, while also filling a defensive off-ball guard role alongside Jamal Murray and Will Barton. He wouldn’t be playing more than 25 minutes a game, until he earns Michael Malone’s trust, but he gives Denver a capable backup to turn to when the situation dictates. The Kings would take back Mudiay, while also absorbing Kenneth Faried’s contract for next season. If the Nuggets could move Mudiay and Faried without attaching a first-round pick, that would be a huge win for their front office.

This would be a win-now trade for the Nuggets, who would be committing to a lot of money for next season. Hill’s contract for the 2019-20 season is only guaranteed for $1 million, and the Nuggets would likely waive him for that season rather than pay him the remaining $17 million.