Eliminated: DEN is out, knee-jerk trades & solutions [credit: Foshan]

[babyjax13]

So i thought this could be fun as each team gets knocked out. Especially at a time in which fans of said eliminated teams are thinking very clearly

So where does Denver go from here?

[Coeur]

I think the result shows that huge Nugs believers like myself thinking this was definitely Nugs year to win title and it was all lost due to Jamal Murray injury might not be as for sure as I thought.


This team wasn’t Jamal Murray away from winning. It was Murray and 1 more guard away from title.


This team needs to use the created value cause by injury that Campazzo received. And trade him in addition to Barton and whatever other picks it takes to get a Bogdan bogdanovic type.


Nugs will win 2022 nba title

[K_chile22]

They need defense in every single form. Point of attack, on the wing, and weak side rim protection. If Smart really is being dangled by Boston they should push hard there. Not sure what with though. Monte Morris+ this year's pick for Smart??

[Godaddycurse]

I think the result shows that huge Nugs believers like myself thinking this was definitely Nugs year to win title and it was all lost due to Jamal Murray injury might not be as for sure as I thought.


This team wasn’t Jamal Murray away from winning. It was Murray and 1 more guard away from title.


This team needs to use the created value cause by injury that Campazzo received. And trade him in addition to Barton and whatever other picks it takes to get a Bogdan bogdanovic type.


Nugs will win 2022 nba title

They can only trade their 2021 1st.. after that its all tied up. I think most likely route of upgrade is via MLE

[eminence]

I’d be looking at moving MPJ for a more defensive forward. Not sure how much salary they could match, so no names to throw out immediately.

[babyjax13]

My initial thought was that MPJ for Jaren Jackson could be a trade that benefits both teams. Both guys are huge injury risks, but it gives Memphis a better secondary scorer, and it gives Denver another stretchy guy who can also provide some rim protection with Jokic.

[K_chile22]

My initial thought was that MPJ for Jaren Jackson could be a trade that benefits both teams. Both guys are huge injury risks, but it gives Memphis a better secondary scorer, and it gives Denver another stretchy guy who can also provide some rim protection with Jokic.

Unfortunately I think JJJs rim protection is more theoretical than anything at this point. Hell of a shooter, but so is MPJ

[K_chile22]

I’d be looking at moving MPJ for a more defensive forward. Not sure how much salary they could match, so no names to throw out immediately.

Jonathan Isaac?

[eminence]

I’d be looking at moving MPJ for a more defensive forward. Not sure how much salary they could match, so no names to throw out immediately.

Jonathan Isaac?

Fit is great, but whew, that injury history. Might be worth it.

[K_chile22]

I’d be looking at moving MPJ for a more defensive forward. Not sure how much salary they could match, so no names to throw out immediately.

Jonathan Isaac?

Fit is great, but whew, that injury history. Might be worth it.

Not like MPJ has a clean bill of health lol don't think nuggets move him tho. If they did I think Orlando has to add something

[babyjax13]

My initial thought was that MPJ for Jaren Jackson could be a trade that benefits both teams. Both guys are huge injury risks, but it gives Memphis a better secondary scorer, and it gives Denver another stretchy guy who can also provide some rim protection with Jokic.

Unfortunately I think JJJs rim protection is more theoretical than anything at this point. Hell of a shooter, but so is MPJ

Career 1.5 blocks per game, but if you are referring to rebounding, yes - although I think that Jokic is such a good rebounder that is a bit less important (but still, it's pretty bad for a power forward).

[K_chile22]

My initial thought was that MPJ for Jaren Jackson could be a trade that benefits both teams. Both guys are huge injury risks, but it gives Memphis a better secondary scorer, and it gives Denver another stretchy guy who can also provide some rim protection with Jokic.

Unfortunately I think JJJs rim protection is more theoretical than anything at this point. Hell of a shooter, but so is MPJ

Career 1.5 blocks per game, but if you are referring to rebounding, yes - although I think that Jokic is such a good rebounder that is a bit less important (but still, it's pretty bad for a power forward).

I mean, there's a difference in getting blocks and being an actual rim protector. Look at early career clint/DJA. They blocked a lot of shots because if you came right at them they'd go get it, but they weren't rotating and contesting shots across the lane. Outside of his rookie year he's been about average in opponent shooting % at the rim on vs off, and well below it in terms of opponent frequency of shots at the rim on vs off. Obviously not the end all be all but it matches my subjective eye test. Generally a good thing to look at when seeing if someone truly is effective defending the rim in a team sense

Maybe he ends up getting it like those guys but it took them a long time and idk if Denver wants to wait

[pro24]

They need defense in every single form. Point of attack, on the wing, and weak side rim protection. If Smart really is being dangled by Boston they should push hard there. Not sure what with though. Monte Morris+ this year's pick for Smart??

I like the fit of Smart but he's an UFA if they just wait a year.

It depends on the health of Murray if they make a hard push next year.

[K_chile22]

They need defense in every single form. Point of attack, on the wing, and weak side rim protection. If Smart really is being dangled by Boston they should push hard there. Not sure what with though. Monte Morris+ this year's pick for Smart??

I like the fit of Smart but he's an UFA if they just wait a year.

It depends on the health of Murray if they make a hard push next year.

They're going to be capped out and most likely close to the tax line so waiting a year makes it impossible for them to add him

[babyjax13]

Unfortunately I think JJJs rim protection is more theoretical than anything at this point. Hell of a shooter, but so is MPJ

Career 1.5 blocks per game, but if you are referring to rebounding, yes - although I think that Jokic is such a good rebounder that is a bit less important (but still, it's pretty bad for a power forward).

I mean, there's a difference in getting blocks and being an actual rim protector. Look at early career clint/DJA. They blocked a lot of shots because if you came right at them they'd go get it, but they weren't rotating and contesting shots across the lane. Outside of his rookie year he's been about average in opponent shooting % at the rim on vs off, and well below it in terms of opponent frequency of shots at the rim on vs off. Obviously not the end all be all but it matches my subjective eye test. Generally a good thing to look at when seeing if someone truly is effective defending the rim in a team sense

Maybe he ends up getting it like those guys but it took them a long time and idk if Denver wants to wait

I think if he becomes an actual weak-side shot blocker who compliments Jokic those stats will look better. Relying on him to be what I call a 'system defender' where the defensive system literally is to funnel an entire team to the center (a la Utah) just isn't going to work, and he won't have that kind of impact. But I do think he can help cover for Jokic's weakness a bit by offering another guy with size who is better at blocking shots.

[sacking123]

I wouldn't mind them targeting two guys. Royce O'Neale and Myles Turner.
It would be hard to pry Royce out of Utah so wondering if they have enough to get that done along with another upgrade. Might need to get creative with Gordon, Morris, 2021 1st as the main chips.
Need to keep Rivers and Millsap as depth and hope a couple of the younger players develop into serviceable players.

[babyjax13]

I wouldn't mind them targeting two guys. Royce O'Neale and Myles Turner.
It would be hard to pry Royce out of Utah so wondering if they have enough to get that done along with another upgrade. Might need to get creative with Gordon, Morris, 2021 1st as the main chips.
Need to keep Rivers and Millsap as depth and hope a couple of the younger players develop into serviceable players.

I think we desperately need Royce for the same reason Denver would, but maybe Josh Hart could be an alternative?

[Mavrelous]

It was a freak year where their 1st 3 guards went down, Not much change is needed.
I'd explore MPJ for JJJ trade, more size for Denver, more scoring for Memphis, they need a backup center, I'd sign WCS if Mavs release his option.
Extend Barton, he's a good fit next to Jokic.

[sacking123]

I wouldn't mind them targeting two guys. Royce O'Neale and Myles Turner.
It would be hard to pry Royce out of Utah so wondering if they have enough to get that done along with another upgrade. Might need to get creative with Gordon, Morris, 2021 1st as the main chips.
Need to keep Rivers and Millsap as depth and hope a couple of the younger players develop into serviceable players.

I think we desperately need Royce for the same reason Denver would, but maybe Josh Hart could be an alternative?

Yeah, I can certainly understand that with Royce. He is that perfect blend at each end of the floor when you have stars in place. And most importantly is locked up to a great contract IMO.
Personally, I wouldn't go after Hart. I would prefer someone like Thybulle as I think his trajectory is going to continue at both ends of the floor.
Again, might be tough prying him away from 76ers though with the assets on offer.
If Barton would stay on a decent amount and not go too crazy it might be worth running it back with Murray, Barton, Morris, Campazzo Rivers.
But they would still need a big wing defender and an upgrade of Gordon.

[babyjax13]

I wouldn't mind them targeting two guys. Royce O'Neale and Myles Turner.
It would be hard to pry Royce out of Utah so wondering if they have enough to get that done along with another upgrade. Might need to get creative with Gordon, Morris, 2021 1st as the main chips.
Need to keep Rivers and Millsap as depth and hope a couple of the younger players develop into serviceable players.

I think we desperately need Royce for the same reason Denver would, but maybe Josh Hart could be an alternative?

Yeah, I can certainly understand that with Royce. He is that perfect blend at each end of the floor when you have stars in place. And most importantly is locked up to a great contract IMO.
Personally, I wouldn't go after Hart. I would prefer someone like Thybulle as I think his trajectory is going to continue at both ends of the floor.
Again, might be tough prying him away from 76ers though with the assets on offer.
If Barton would stay on a decent amount and not go too crazy it might be worth running it back with Murray, Barton, Morris, Campazzo Rivers.
But they would still need a big wing defender and an upgrade of Gordon.

Yah, I think the problem is there is a difference between the ideal and the possible. There are lots of guys who can moonlight in that role but might not have the same impact (Houston alone has Nwaba and House --- Tate, too, but I don't think he'd reasonably be available).