RealGM

Detroit trade: Harris, Beasley
Denver trade: MPJ

Why for Denver: add a vet who can better create for himself and defend, as well as a volume shooter. Save some money next year when Murray and Gordon's new deal kicks in
Why for Detroit: get the younger player who can better space for Cade

No, MPJ is much better defender than Beasley, and much better shooter than Harris

Both teams say no.

To the Nuggets, MPJ provides high value thanks both his fit with Jokic and his role in the offense limiting him to things he's good at (shooting threes and attacking in flight on feeds from Jokic and Murray) and not what he's bad at (creating anything at all for himself or his teammates), and -- when he's trying -- he contributes capably on defense to Denver's protect-the-Jokic scheme; he's an important component to the success of a team that's trying to contend. To the Pistons, MPJ would provide much less value as a considerably worse fit who would be asked to operate outside of his comfort zone, and he'd be an overpaid player on a long-term contract for a team that isn't trying to contend right now.

To the Pistons, Harris and Beasley are short-term additions who will play specific roles on a young team that's still developing; Harris will provide some veteran stability and some ability to create offense (MPJ would provide neither), and Beasley is around to provide some shooting on a one-year deal. To the Nuggets, they'd have less value than MPJ. Harris is nowhere near his equal as a shooter and is his lesser as a defender, and the Nuggets need his ability to create off the dribble less than they require MPJ's shooting; and Beasley, though an excellent C&S guy, is a bad defender the likes of which the Nuggets would most likely wish to avoid fielding alongside Jokic.

The Nuggets would recapture some cap space for the 2026-2027 offseason, but it's unlikely that cap space would make much of a difference -- and that's a moot question anyway, because their window is now and it makes no sense for them for them to get worse in the short term for the sake of more flexibility in two years. The Pistons would lose flexibility for the sake of acquiring a player who doesn't fit.

I mean right now it does look like Denver should split MPJ into pieces if they can. Of the guys they are paying, he's the least important and their rotation currently looks 2-3 players short.

But if some of their young guys step forward I guess they could just ride it out. But with his limited game and all the risks that come with him, injury and otherwise, I'd be looking for an escape ramp regardless.

Jokic is amazing, but Murray is wildly inconsistent and has looked in terrible form both in the playoffs and Olympics. Gordon fits great, but you can't win with 2.5 players even if one of them is Joker.

Detroit should avoid getting in the Porter business at all costs though.

Come on, Tobias Harris?

I don't think denver is interesting in downgrading to save a relatively small amount of money. Especially given Tobias's playoff flop this last year.
And I don't think detroit is in a position to bring in big, long term money for a guy who isn't an actual star. I'm definitely not buying into the idea the MPJ would somehow be more productive without Joker spoon feeding him open looks.

Detroit would owe picks and they are not in a position to give any away.

nomansland wrote:Come on, Tobias Harris?

You can’t unload a negative contract for 1 or two year deals AND be choosey about who you get back.

Certainly not without picks involved.

I wouldn’t touch this.

Snakebites wrote:

nomansland wrote:Come on, Tobias Harris?

You can’t unload a negative contract for 1 or two year deals AND be choosey about who you get back.

Certainly not without picks involved.

I wouldn’t touch this.

Me neither. Tobias Harris is a really bad deal. Come up short in POs year after year. 76ers couldn't win anything with him as 3rd option. I wouldn't do it even with picks.