Mired in the middle of the ever-stacked Western Conference, Denver’s limitations in the trade market have naturally pushed team decision-makers to contemplate what would be a seismic move. League sources say that the Nuggets have indeed weighed whether to trade away Michael Porter Jr.
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Denver Nuggets considering trading Michael Porter Jr. sportando.basketball/en/denver-nugg… – 2:35 PM
Denver Nuggets considering trading Michael Porter Jr. sportando.basketball/en/denver-nugg… – 2:35 PM
Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
A bit shocking to anyone else that Malone decided to go with Westbrook as the primary defender and MPJ was also out there when they have Christian Braun and Peyton Watson? – 1:30 AM
A bit shocking to anyone else that Malone decided to go with Westbrook as the primary defender and MPJ was also out there when they have Christian Braun and Peyton Watson? – 1:30 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Halftime Rotations for the Nuggets as they stay tied with the Blazers at 66.
Nikola Jokic: 17-4-5, a sudden burst of threes, not enough REBs
Michael Porter: 13 points, 5 rebounds, shooting like he heard the noise a bit
Russell Westbrook: 9 points, 5 awesome assists pic.x.com/qBkHmbubqV – 11:10 PM
Halftime Rotations for the Nuggets as they stay tied with the Blazers at 66.
Nikola Jokic: 17-4-5, a sudden burst of threes, not enough REBs
Michael Porter: 13 points, 5 rebounds, shooting like he heard the noise a bit
Russell Westbrook: 9 points, 5 awesome assists pic.x.com/qBkHmbubqV – 11:10 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
In search for more offense, Nuggets reportedly eying Zach LaVine trade
The cost would start with Michael Porter Jr. and likely include at least a first-round pick swap.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/in-se… – 9:52 AM
In search for more offense, Nuggets reportedly eying Zach LaVine trade
The cost would start with Michael Porter Jr. and likely include at least a first-round pick swap.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/in-se… – 9:52 AM
More on this storyline
The Nuggets also know that Porter’s presence furnishes them with some extra size. Swapping him for LaVine would make Denver smaller and likely create new defensive challenges to manage. This is why, sources say, some in the Nuggets’ front office believe that the best course — if they indeed reach the point that it is time to part with Porter — is swapping him for two starting-caliber players rather than a solitary former All-Star like LaVine. -via marcstein.substack.com / December 20, 2024
Apart from Porter, Denver otherwise only has reserve center Zeke Nnaji’s $8.8 million salary as significant outgoing money available for a potential trade without surrendering a critical member of Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s current rotation. Yet it would take both Porter’s and Nnaji’s salaries to match LaVine’s $43 million figure in Chicago this season. And while there are indeed fans of LaVine throughout the Nuggets’ front office — sources confirm the report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Tony Jones earlier this week — there is much for Denver to weigh here. -via marcstein.substack.com / December 20, 2024
The Nuggets reportedly would include sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr., 26, in a potential deal for LaVine. “He’s obviously going to have to defer,” the scout said of LaVine. “But the thing about Jokić is he makes everybody better. I’d be champing at the bit to be playing off of him. I think (LaVine) will fit in fine. Jokić is so special, he makes guys better probably more than anybody in the entire league.” -via New York Times / December 19, 2024