RealGM

Denver Trades: Zeke Nnaji, #28 (2024 1st rd pick pick)

Charlotte Trades: Cody Martin

Why: Charlotte gets an additional 1st rd pick to use in this draft and they take a flyer on Zeke Nnaji. Denver takes a chance on Cody Martin hoping he can stay healthy and be their Bruce Brown replacement. He's exactly what they need off the bench with Jamal Murray. Also potentially becomes KCP insurance if they can't bring him back.

I think Charlotte should kick back one or two 2nd here, or Denver simply uses 2 2nds with Nnaji.

i think denver should aim higher than cody martin

Colbinii wrote:I think Charlotte should kick back one or two 2nd here, or Denver simply uses 2 2nds with Nnaji.

If Denver could pull of this trade with 2 2nds then that would be great.

youngthegiant wrote:

Colbinii wrote:I think Charlotte should kick back one or two 2nd here, or Denver simply uses 2 2nds with Nnaji.

If Denver could pull of this trade with 2 2nds then that would be great.

Yeah, this isn't even a salary dump since Cody Martin has 2 years left and Nnaji has 3 years.

So what is the value of 8 Million in 3 years? Maybe a 2nd or two?

Colbinii wrote:

youngthegiant wrote:

Colbinii wrote:I think Charlotte should kick back one or two 2nd here, or Denver simply uses 2 2nds with Nnaji.

If Denver could pull of this trade with 2 2nds then that would be great.

Yeah, this isn't even a salary dump since Cody Martin has 2 years left and Nnaji has 3 years.

So what is the value of 8 Million in 3 years? Maybe a 2nd or two?

Nnaji has 4 yrs left (32M total)

Cody's 2nd year is unguaranteed

you are way off here, its a big salary dump

Godaddycurse wrote:

Colbinii wrote:

youngthegiant wrote:If Denver could pull of this trade with 2 2nds then that would be great.

Yeah, this isn't even a salary dump since Cody Martin has 2 years left and Nnaji has 3 years.

So what is the value of 8 Million in 3 years? Maybe a 2nd or two?

Nnaji has 4 yrs left (32M total)

Cody's 2nd year is unguaranteed

you are way off here, its a big salary dump

Yup, missed the notes on Martin.

Cody can be stretched now for ~ $1.6M a year, that's more likely to be "value" than his on-court value tbh. Does that get Denver below any cap/tax threshold?

I'm ok with this move from Charlotte's end as long as we already have a deal for Richards. Add a FA center, and going into next season with a four-headed C rotation of Mark/[JV?]/Nnaji/other Nnaji would be fine.

I wouldn't do it. I'm all for trading Nnaji + pick for veteran to fill position of need, backup C or backup PG. Cody is backup wing, and Brown, Watson are better than him. He was bad the last 2 seasons an injured.

BelgradeNugget wrote:I wouldn't do it. I'm all for trading Nnaji + pick for veteran to fill position of need, backup C or backup PG. Cody is backup wing, and Brown, Watson are better than him. He was bad the last 2 seasons an injured.

Just sub in Nick Richards.

babyjax13 wrote:

BelgradeNugget wrote:I wouldn't do it. I'm all for trading Nnaji + pick for veteran to fill position of need, backup C or backup PG. Cody is backup wing, and Brown, Watson are better than him. He was bad the last 2 seasons an injured.

Just sub in Nick Richards.

Yes. I mean Hornets fans are very low on him, he was in 20% defensively on EPM. But if you start from Nnaji as your backup C Nick Richards is upgrade for small money. And I dont think it would cost 1st, maybe 2-3 seconds to do this deal.

BelgradeNugget wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

BelgradeNugget wrote:I wouldn't do it. I'm all for trading Nnaji + pick for veteran to fill position of need, backup C or backup PG. Cody is backup wing, and Brown, Watson are better than him. He was bad the last 2 seasons an injured.

Just sub in Nick Richards.

Yes. I mean Hornets fans are very low on him, he was in 20% defensively on EPM. But if you start from Nnaji as your backup C Nick Richards is upgrade for small money. And I dont think it would cost 1st, maybe 2-3 seconds to do this deal.

Hard disagree, it's going to take a first to dump Nnaji.

babyjax13 wrote:

BelgradeNugget wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:Just sub in Nick Richards.

Yes. I mean Hornets fans are very low on him, he was in 20% defensively on EPM. But if you start from Nnaji as your backup C Nick Richards is upgrade for small money. And I dont think it would cost 1st, maybe 2-3 seconds to do this deal.

Hard disagree, it's going to take a first to dump Nnaji.

I would agree on this, but if you go to Hornets forum, thay are so low on Nick Richards, like they just wan't to see his back. If you look at his stats he looks like very good backup C. But I guess they know better. So maybe it would be Nnaji + 1st for Richards and maybe 2 seconds. Maybe some Hornets fan could help here with value.

BelgradeNugget wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:

BelgradeNugget wrote:Yes. I mean Hornets fans are very low on him, he was in 20% defensively on EPM. But if you start from Nnaji as your backup C Nick Richards is upgrade for small money. And I dont think it would cost 1st, maybe 2-3 seconds to do this deal.

Hard disagree, it's going to take a first to dump Nnaji.

I would agree on this, but if you go to Hornets forum, thay are so low on Nick Richards, like they just wan't to see his back. If you look at his stats he looks like very good backup C. But I guess they know better. So maybe it would be Nnaji + 1st for Richards and maybe 2 seconds. Maybe some Hornets fan could help here with value.

I feel like comparing Zeke and Nick Richards is just that meme with two Spidermans pointing at each other. Doubtful there's much difference in terms of players. Either way, they are probably fine as 3rd stringers but not someone you'll ever want to play in a playoff series.

The difference is one is owed 1 year $5M (and then non-guaranteed $5M the next year)
the other is on the books for 4 years $32M.

I think getting out of that with just the late 1st is probably more than fair value for the Nuggets. Charlotte certainly shouldn't have to add value on top.

2 or 3 2nds doesn't dump Nnaji, that dumps a 1 year contract at his price tag, and realistically Denver is so good that I wouldn't even take on money for picks in the late 50s.

HornetJail wrote:

BelgradeNugget wrote:

babyjax13 wrote:Hard disagree, it's going to take a first to dump Nnaji.

I would agree on this, but if you go to Hornets forum, thay are so low on Nick Richards, like they just wan't to see his back. If you look at his stats he looks like very good backup C. But I guess they know better. So maybe it would be Nnaji + 1st for Richards and maybe 2 seconds. Maybe some Hornets fan could help here with value.

I feel like comparing Zeke and Nick Richards is just that meme with two Spidermans pointing at each other. Doubtful there's much difference in terms of players. Either way, they are probably fine as 3rd stringers but not someone you'll ever want to play in a playoff series.

The difference is one is owed 1 year $5M (and then non-guaranteed $5M the next year)
the other is on the books for 4 years $32M.

I think getting out of that with just the late 1st is probably more than fair value for the Nuggets. Charlotte certainly shouldn't have to add value on top.

2 or 3 2nds doesn't dump Nnaji, that dumps a 1 year contract at his price tag, and realistically Denver is so good that I wouldn't even take on money for picks in the late 50s.

Thanks. Well, here is a problem. If Zeke and Nick Richards are basically the same, and Denver's front office knows better then me, I don't think they will give away Zake + 1st. Zake is 22 and showed some kind of potential. They hope he will improve. Richards is 26 and I guess he is what he is by now. All Denver's fans want to trade Zake to get back real backup C, one that can allow some rest to Jokic, at least in regular season. If this trade is just salary dump I don't think they will do it.

I don't think I would do this deal even without Cody Martin included to be honest, who is a positive asset due to his contract virtually being an expiring with upside.

Nnaji is basically useless and has 4 yrs on his deal at 32 million, 28th pick isn't even worth it for me especially since this is labeled a bad draft.

The Nuggets 2031 first rounder is "frozen" since they are above 2nd apron correct?

Richards isn't anything special but I do feel some here are slightly low on him. I'd consider him a replacement level backup C.

I think the fact he had to masquerade as a starter for 3/4 of the season has soured some Hornets fans on him.