“The core of this team was assembled under a different CBA,” Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke said at the team’s end-of-year press conference
Denver will exceed the second apron as currently constructed. They need to resign KCP this offseason, and Jamal next offseason.
MPJ is a great shooter, but he makes $35M as the 3rd/4th most important player on the team. Assuming they want to make some improvements to the roster and given that they don’t have many avenues, he is the most likely trade candidate, right?
I have him as a good player whose value is “neutralized” by his salary impact. What are the best choices if they were to trade him?
A strong candidate for trade is also Zeke Naji, who is probably not worth his $9M hold.
Here’s a trade proposal to address this situation. Done as two separate trades:
MPJ + Naji + ‘25 2nd ($44M salary)
for
Bruce Brown + Chris Boucher + TPE ($34M salary)
Nuggets reunite with Brown who can play 1-3. Boucher becomes the backup PF/C. Both are also expiring, and you can resign Brown at a lower number next season.
Raptors get a starting caliber SF, in exchange for taking on salary. They don’t have to outright tank for next season anymore, as they were probably not going to be a bottom 5 team anyway.
