RealGM

“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.

dont want Nnaji and MPJ's contracts putting us into the tax next year. This doesn't rasie our ceiling meaningfully. we are likely still a play in team at best with or without their contracts on the books.

Can find shooters for much much cheaper price elsewhere. E.g. Duncan Robinson

yeah Toronto can't keep clogging their books with good but not difference making players with no star in place and no real path to one(I can't see Barnes ever being a true number 1 option on a contending team).

And for Denver, I think they could get better pieces back than this.

Texas Chuck wrote:yeah Toronto can't keep clogging their books with good but not difference making players with no star in place and no real path to one(I can't see Barnes ever being a true number 1 option on a contending team).

And for Denver, I think they could get better pieces back than this.

You dont think Scottie could be a superstar? He’s not someone who is a pure scorer, but he’s more in the Giannis mold. That turned out to work fine.

If Toronto’s FO believes that Scottie is HIM, then it makes sense to bring on talents (eg shooters like MPJ) to complete the roster. If not, then I agree with you.

Yeah I don't see either team being interested in this at the end of the day.

If Denver's looking to move MPJ, San Antonio and then Detroit would probably be my first calls.

gswhoops wrote:Yeah I don't see either team being interested in this at the end of the day.

If Denver's looking to move MPJ, San Antonio and then Detroit would probably be my first calls.

What would Detroit/SanAntonio offer for MPJ?

MessiahUjiri wrote:

gswhoops wrote:Yeah I don't see either team being interested in this at the end of the day.

If Denver's looking to move MPJ, San Antonio and then Detroit would probably be my first calls.

What would Detroit/SanAntonio offer for MPJ?

Both would be based on offering significant immediate cap relief which is kinda why I started there.

San Antonio could offer a combination of Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins, and/or Tre Jones (all useful players who would fill holes on Denver's roster) plus potentially some of their lower-value picks if Denver has a strong negotiating position. Something like MPJ for Keldon straight up clears about $18M in cap space immediately and gives them a built in replacement for MPJ.

Detroit is a little trickier because it would probably have to be a three-teamer, sending someone like Ivey out for a veteran and then forwarding that vet + cap space to Denver. In a straight up deal, it's a little less clean, but something like Stewart + Ivey for MPJ + Nnaji gives Denver $20M in cap relief, a much more playable third big, and a flier on a guy who could be an upgrade to the Reggie Jackson role off the bench.

Denver doesn't need to trade MPJ. Every contending team will be in the second apron.

Chris Boucher is bad at basketball. It is no secret.
Bruce Brown was bad this season. It is no secret. Only value Indiana and Toronto saw in him is his 23 milion team option. His best season was with Denver as 6 man. Nostaligie can't be a reason for trade.
MPJ was starting sf and 3/4 option for championship team. Much better player. So I really don't see this as an option.

All this trade doas for Denver is take away any chance for championship with this team.