The Denver Nuggets are having one of the most baffling offseasons in the league. After their 21st-ranked defense got exposed by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs, major changes felt like a certainty. Well, I guess they did make some changes by letting restricted free agent Peyton Watson walk for a single first-round pick and signing DeMar DeRozan.
In other words, the Nuggets let one of their best defenders jump ship and replaced him with a defensive liability. Right on.
It's not a bold statement to say the Nuggets are getting left behind, as the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are clear juggernauts and other fringe contenders have improved their weaknesses. To be fair, Denver's payroll and lack of picks put them in a tough spot.
With every other contending team having a high level of defense to reach, though, the Nuggets' current roster gives them no chance to win at the highest level. At this point of the offseason, they probably won't do this, but they should trade Jamal Murray. I know that sounds extreme, but hear me out.
The Nuggets need more two-way balance
Nikola Jokić and Murray are understandably known as an elite duo. The two-man game is tremendous, and they've had a lot of success, including a 2023 championship run.
But in a league with the Spurs and Thunder now being the standard, can you win with a poor point-of-attack defender and a poor rim protector? I don't think so, and the recent results against the Timberwolves would suggest no. Keep in mind, they lost to the Timberwolves without Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu in Game 6. Throughout the series, both Jokić and Murray were at the center of their defensive issues, as they were hunted relentlessly.
One common counter could be that the New York Knicks just won a title with a similarly flawed defensive duo. Fair point, but the wing trio of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart more than made up for this. The Nuggets can't replicate "Wing Stop." Plus, Karl-Anthony Towns played fantastic defense in the playoffs, including against Victor Wembanyama in the finals. Frankly, we haven't seen Jokić defend like this.
The Nuggets' 2023 title is also something folks might cling to. However, the NBA is adjusting with defense, and two-way balance becoming more important. Denver must re-shuffle the deck or risk being left behind.
Now, it's worth noting that the Nuggets had the best offensive rating in the league last season. They don't get there without Murray, and frankly, if they trade for a more defensive-minded player, they would take a step back offensively. Still, Jokic is a walking top 10 offense, and the benefits of a more balanced team would make trading Murray more worthwhile.
The Nuggets don't have any other good options
If not Murray, then who? That's the question I keep coming back to, because it's painfully obvious they need some sort of change. Even from a pure financial standpoint, they won't be a second apron team by the trade deadline, or even more likely by the start of the season.
Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun are the other popular trade candidates.
Gordon is their best defender, and his injury history limits his value. While it's not hard to see him being traded, it's hard to see a Gordon trade helping the team. Braun is their best point-of-attack defender, and his value is rock bottom given his contract. Selling low on Braun wouldn't be practical, nor would it improve their team. Johnson's value is also fairly low, and trading him would likely be a pure cap maneuver.
Murray is set to make $50 million this season. He's also coming off the best regular season of his career. For teams in need of some extra shot creation, Murray would be a sought-after trade target. And given his aforementioned contract, the Nuggets could save money while improving their top weakness by trading Murray.
Some possible trade options for the Nuggets
Pinpointing a specific trade isn't an easy task, and it might have to wait until the deadline (if the Nuggets even have the stones to trade him).
Still, Franz Wagner and Kevin Durant stand out as high-end yet fairly realistic trade targets. Yes, the Nuggets would no longer have a traditional point guard (they'd have to address this need), but they'd have a versatile two-way wing and a much more playoff-ready defense. From a practicality standpoint, both the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets could use more perimeter creation.
How about a defensive-minded guard like Nickeil Alexander-Walker? More would have to be included financially speaking, but the framework of a Murray-NAW swap is enticing for both teams.
These are just some rough yet possibly realistic ideas. I get it; these might not sound like ideal options, but what's the alternative for a Nuggets team that needs to extend its title window?
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