Nugs salaries force big Trades

[The Rebel]

I'm all for a two/three-for-one-type trade that brings in a higher level of talent at the expense of some depth, but I sure am curious to see what we have with MPJ.

I'm thinking this guy is an above-average NBA starting 3 extremely soon, and that there's plenty of room for growth. Maybe I'm in the minority on that, and who knows about his health.

And with Grant on the roster now, I'm wondering what teams might be interested in taking Millsap's expiring as part of our thinning-out strategy. It's not like he's dead weight.

The issue is the money, if we trade Millsap than we are committed to being a luxury tax team next year unless you also trade Barton and Harris to get expiring next summer. Personally I do not think any of us are sure that they will pay it, they have only paid it 4 times and those were back in the Melo years.

I think if they go into the tax than it is going to be a top end talent, like a Beal or someone at that level. The issue is that I am not sure that we can get those guys to want to come here. Even after a 2nd place finish and getting to game 7 of the 2nd round as such a young team the national media is not giving us much respect at all. Even if we are in 1st place around the deadline I am not sure that a guy like Beal will agree to come here.

[TunaFish]

I'm all for a two/three-for-one-type trade that brings in a higher level of talent at the expense of some depth, but I sure am curious to see what we have with MPJ.

I'm thinking this guy is an above-average NBA starting 3 extremely soon, and that there's plenty of room for growth. Maybe I'm in the minority on that, and who knows about his health.

And with Grant on the roster now, I'm wondering what teams might be interested in taking Millsap's expiring as part of our thinning-out strategy. It's not like he's dead weight.

The issue is the money, if we trade Millsap than we are committed to being a luxury tax team next year unless you also trade Barton and Harris to get expiring next summer. Personally I do not think any of us are sure that they will pay it, they have only paid it 4 times and those were back in the Melo years.

I think if they go into the tax than it is going to be a top end talent, like a Beal or someone at that level. The issue is that I am not sure that we can get those guys to want to come here. Even after a 2nd place finish and getting to game 7 of the 2nd round as such a young team the national media is not giving us much respect at all. Even if we are in 1st place around the deadline I am not sure that a guy like Beal will agree to come here.

If Denver starts out hot and looks like a contender, that could change a few minds. I think the issue with Beal is the situation of the Wizards needing to draw fans during a difficult time. They will be reluctant to trade him. They will only move him if he wants out and many of us think that may happen at the trade deadline.

He will garner a max contract somewhere and it is likely that he will pick his spot, the way things are now in the NBA. The question is whether Denver can play well enough to entice him.

[The Rebel]

I'm all for a two/three-for-one-type trade that brings in a higher level of talent at the expense of some depth, but I sure am curious to see what we have with MPJ.

I'm thinking this guy is an above-average NBA starting 3 extremely soon, and that there's plenty of room for growth. Maybe I'm in the minority on that, and who knows about his health.

And with Grant on the roster now, I'm wondering what teams might be interested in taking Millsap's expiring as part of our thinning-out strategy. It's not like he's dead weight.

The issue is the money, if we trade Millsap than we are committed to being a luxury tax team next year unless you also trade Barton and Harris to get expiring next summer. Personally I do not think any of us are sure that they will pay it, they have only paid it 4 times and those were back in the Melo years.

I think if they go into the tax than it is going to be a top end talent, like a Beal or someone at that level. The issue is that I am not sure that we can get those guys to want to come here. Even after a 2nd place finish and getting to game 7 of the 2nd round as such a young team the national media is not giving us much respect at all. Even if we are in 1st place around the deadline I am not sure that a guy like Beal will agree to come here.

If Denver starts out hot and looks like a contender, that could change a few minds. I think the issue with Beal is the situation of the Wizards needing to draw fans during a difficult time. They will be reluctant to trade him. They will only move him if he wants out and many of us think that may happen at the trade deadline.

He will garner a max contract somewhere and it is likely that he will pick his spot, the way things are now in the NBA. The question is whether Denver can play well enough to entice him.

I don't think it is just about drawing fans. Leonsis the Wizards owner has said multiple times that he does not believe in tanking. Which tells me he wants productive players if they do trade Beal, and with Wall on their cap they will have a hard time building in free agency as guys knows what happens when you play for an owner that was one of the ones pushing for the stronger luxury tax.

So it would likely need to be a 3 team deal, because I do not see anyway we take back Wall, and they likely do not have much interest in Millsap.

Although I have wondered if a package of Harris, Barton, Plumlee, and future picks is enough to get the conversation going?

[NuggetsWY]

Frankly, there aren't too many players in the NBA that I think Denver should be trying to acquire. We need to figure out just how good our future forward lineup is first. How well will Grant-Vanderbilt-Porter be? Hernangomez & Craig look to fit in that mix nicely too.

But Nuggets acquire Bradley Beal - I'd love that announcement. But as has mentioned, what would it take?

Salary-wise, Harris & Barton match-up but without a doubt, Washington will want more.

Our 2020 1st is gone. Our 2020 2nd is gone. Our 2021 2nd is gone.

Would two 1sts beginning with 2021 be enough? I think Beal is worth that much. Acquiring him will be expensive.

Option #1:
Beal for Harris - Barton - Vanderbilt - Morris plus 2021 1st & 2023 1st
Harris & Barton are veterans but young enough to help Washington now and for a few years.
Morris makes sense for Washington since Harris & Barton are both shooting guards.
Morris & Vanderbilt plus two 1sts brings youth with potential.

Option #2:
I'm not sure what might entice Washington except adding in players that I don't think we should trade: Jokic & Murray of course and Grant & Porter - I'm willing to trade 3 or 4 of the rest of the team but I doubt Washington even wants that many because they have a full roster.

We could offer Plumlee for Mahinmi into Option #1. It would save Washington 1 year's salary, but that's about it.
We could offer to take back CJ Miles. He'd actually fit in Option #1 as proposed. That would save Washington 2 year's at $8m each.

[skywalker33]

Not trying to shoot down your trade, just adding some thoughts. First, since we're trading our 2020 1st, we can only swap our 2021 or change it to 2022 and 2024 perhaps add a swap too.

If we're trading Morris, Barton and Harris what do we do for backup guards ?? We can/would need to sign Beasley but what do we do fo a backup PG ?? We won't have any draft picks until 2021 at earliest, not sure what kinda free agents we could pay/obtain...do we need to make another trade ??

While I love the idea of adding Beal, it seems there are quite a few logistics that may deter it happening IMO . Who is our backup PG, does acquiring Beal hurt our chances to sign Beasley ? How do we replenish our depth w/o draft picks ? Does our depth outweigh the benefits of trading for Beal ?

[NuggetsWY]

Not trying to shoot down your trade, just adding some thoughts. First, since we're trading our 2020 1st, we can only swap our 2021 or change it to 2022 and 2024 perhaps add a swap too.

If we're trading Morris, Barton and Harris what do we do for backup guards ?? We can/would need to sign Beasley but what do we do fo a backup PG ?? We won't have any draft picks until 2021 at earliest, not sure what kinda free agents we could pay/obtain...do we need to make another trade ??

While I love the idea of adding Beal, it seems there are quite a few logistics that may deter it happening IMO . Who is our backup PG, does acquiring Beal hurt our chances to sign Beasley ? How do we replenish our depth w/o draft picks ? Does our depth outweigh the benefits of trading for Beal ?

Totally understand every point and the biggest one is backup PG. I'd forgotten about the multiple year 1st rule but however it works, I'm okay with that. I'd rather trade Beasley & keep Morris but trading Barton, Harris, & Beasley is trading three SGs and I don't think Washington wants that.

I'm not overly concerned about backup PG. PGs used to bring the ball up court against pressure - which is seldom an issue in the modern NBA and then they would setup and control the offense.

For right now, Jokic can bring the ball up court against pressure and if it's a guard pressuring him, he can easily throw over the top of them. Millsap's a fair ball handler, Plumlee too. Grant & Vanderbilt are better. Craig's not too bad either and while none would ever be mistaken for a PG, they can handle bringing the ball up court. As for starting the offense, whoever brings the ball up should throw it to Jokic and then everyone needs to move.

Beal & Murray along with either Beasley or Morris, makes a nice 3 guard combo. Beal's not a PG but he's actually a better ball handler than Harris (by a little at least in my opinion). Dozier can play 4th guard (Craig a little bit too). There are always some 3rd string PGs available and some can play reasonable minutes. Jeremy Lin might be a nice fit in Denver's offense, but he wouldn't be a top choice, just an example. No doubt a few back PGs will be cut early in the season: perhaps someone like Robinson from the Wizards. There are a few PGs on rosters that might be available. $4m salary on New York is Ntilikina. Granted, he hasn't done much yet, but as an emergency backup, he might fit especially on the Nuggets where PG is less about handles and more about shooting. Those are just examples - not players I am looking to acquire.

[TunaFish]

Beal signed a 2 year contract extension. He can't be traded until the end of the season.