The 2018 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad
By Ian Levy
Denver Nuggets
Sending out: Wilson Chandler (MIA), Kenneth Faried (CLE), Emmanuel Mudiay (DET)
Bringing in: Elfrid Payton (ORL), Iman Shumpert (CLE), Patrick Patterson (DEN), 2019 second-round pick (IND)
The Nuggets would probably prefer something a little bit splashier at the trade deadline but this isn’t a horrible deal for them. Shedding Chandler, Faried and Mudiay saves them close to $10 million in salary for next year. Shumpert may not have much of a role on this team moving forward but he’s only under contract for one more season and may even choose to decline his player option in the hopes of landing a longer term deal somewhere else.
Patterson has been a disaster this season for the Thunder but if he can recover his shooting touch and defensive versatility he’d be a useful piece for the Nuggets as they try to push into the playoffs and beyond.
Payton is the wild card here. He can’t really shoot and his defensive reputation outpaces his actual impact. Still, he’s a big, physical point guard who can facilitate and get into the lane. Put Trey Lyles, Will Barton, and Gary Harris on the perimeter around him and let him run pick-and-rolls with Mason Plumlee and the Nuggets offense should be just fine. The Nuggets might have to be willing to re-up Payton this summer but he could be had on a reasonable deal given how much his reputation has suffered in Orlando, and could be fine as a young back-up point guard moving forward.