RealGM

NOTE: Utah already has #10, #29, and #32 in the 2024 NBA Draft. This would clearly need a follow-up (maybe Utah consolidates picks to trade up or trades out?), but that falls outside the scope of this thread.

Reggie Jackson would have to opt into his Player Option for this to work, since Denver is a second-apron team.

Reggie Jackson + Zeke Nnaji = $14,138,889
Jordan Clarkson = $14,092,577
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DEN: Jordan Clarkson
OUT: Zeke Nnaji, Reggie Jackson (PO), #28, DEN 2025 SRP, and DEN 2026 SRP

Why for Denver? Get a real scorer off of the bench who is locked up for two seasons and can fill the Jamal Murray role adequately. Clear the last two years of Zeke Nnaji's contract.

Why not for Denver? Jordan Clarkson is very inefficient and further limits Denver's tradeable picks.
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UTA: Zeke Nnaji, Reggie Jackson (PO), #28, DEN 2025 SRP, and DEN 2026 SRP
OUT: Jordan Clarkson

Why for Utah? Get a First Round Draft Pick and get back into the second round for 2025 and 2026 (Utah has zero seconds in either Draft). Build assets while further bottoming out for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Why not for Utah? Already very pick heavy in the 2024 NBA Draft (would have to facilitate a follow-up to consolidate assets or trade down for future value). Have to take on Zeke Nnaji's $32MM/4 descending deal.
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This is very good for Utah, but I'm pretty sure this is cap illegal due to Denver being over the second apron.

HadAnEffectHere wrote:This is very good for Utah, but I'm pretty sure this is cap illegal due to Denver being over the second apron.

This post just made me remember that you cannot aggregate salaries if you are over the second apron, potentially killing the trade completely. The new CBA imposed a brutal set of rules for RealGM trade nerds.

Even if this trade was legal I don't think any team is offer more than 2nds/expiring for Clarkson.

psman2 wrote:Even if this trade was legal I don't think any team is offer more than 2nds/expiring for Clarkson.

For what it is worth, getting off of Zeke Nnaji's contract was a substantial part of the valuation, but the aggregation problem definitely kills the trade idea completely.

Zeke Nnaji's contract:
2024: $8,888,889
2025: $8,177,778
2026:$7,466,667
2027: $7,466,667 (Player Option)

Domejandro wrote:

HadAnEffectHere wrote:This is very good for Utah, but I'm pretty sure this is cap illegal due to Denver being over the second apron.

This post just made me remember that you cannot aggregate salaries if you are over the second apron, potentially killing the trade completely. The new CBA imposed a brutal set of rules for RealGM trade nerds.

I love the 2nd apron so much. Luxury tax was never enough of a punishment. It made the best teams the ones willing to spend the most. Now it levels the playing field.

Domejandro wrote:

psman2 wrote:Even if this trade was legal I don't think any team is offer more than 2nds/expiring for Clarkson.

For what it is worth, getting off of Zeke Nnaji's contract was a substantial part of the valuation, but the aggregation problem definitely kills the trade idea completely.

Zeke Nnaji's contract:
2024: $8,888,889
2025: $8,177,778
2026:$7,466,667
2027: $7,466,667 (Player Option)

I still have a little faith in Zeke but I could see the reasoning. But I rather not dilute the return by clearing him. Denver is really in a tough spot with the new apron rules with regards to finding trades that work. An eventual MPJ trade seems inescapable.

locked per OP's request