KD needs Jokic. Let's make it happen!

[JustBuzzin]

KD has to be looking at LeBron and having a talent like Luka extend Lebron's career has to be tempting.

Imagine KD playing off of Jokic. I think Denver has to be his next destination.

Denver trades: MPJ/Braun/Nnaji/1st
PHX trades: KD

PHX gets some value for a soon to be 37yr old KD.

Denver gets KD and match the firepower of Luka/LeBron with Jokic/KD.

Is this a fair trade?

[ReggiesKnicks]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

I like this in terms of pure value for Denver, but the Braun player type is more valuable than upgrading MPJ for KD given the cost and loss of Braun.

For Phoenix, I think they can do better. They can get better win-now pieces (Minnesota and potentially OKC) or they can get better asset packages (Houston, Golden State, Magic, Spurs).

[JustBuzzin]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

I like this in terms of pure value for Denver, but the Braun player type is more valuable than upgrading MPJ for KD given the cost and loss of Braun.

For Phoenix, I think they can do better. They can get better win-now pieces (Minnesota and potentially OKC) or they can get better asset packages (Houston, Golden State, Magic, Spurs).

It's KD bro.

Denver needs to take advantage while they still have the best player in basketball. This move moves the needle for them. Those guys all role players. KD is still a star in this league. They can fill out the roster afterwards.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

I like this in terms of pure value for Denver, but the Braun player type is more valuable than upgrading MPJ for KD given the cost and loss of Braun.

For Phoenix, I think they can do better. They can get better win-now pieces (Minnesota and potentially OKC) or they can get better asset packages (Houston, Golden State, Magic, Spurs).

It's KD bro.

Denver needs to take advantage while they still have the best player in basketball. This move moves the needle for them. Those guys all role players. KD is still a star in this league. They can fill out the roster afterwards.

Fill out the roster with what?

And Braun is averaging like 83% FG% on cuts, 15/5/2 on an incredible TS% and has perfect synergy with Jokic all while being the team's best perimeter defender in the rotation.

I don't think Denver has the depth to win after this.

Furthermore, I think Braun is a lot better in Denver than anywhere else. Sure, he is a High IQ player but a majority of his impact comes in transition and off cuts, both of which are fed by Denver's style and personnel.

For Phoenix, they can do better than this. Randle/DDV/whatever else Minnesota offers is better. Whatever OKC offers around their salary matching is going to be better. A lot of teams wouldn't need to try hard to top this offer.

[Slim Charless]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

I like this in terms of pure value for Denver, but the Braun player type is more valuable than upgrading MPJ for KD given the cost and loss of Braun.

For Phoenix, I think they can do better. They can get better win-now pieces (Minnesota and potentially OKC) or they can get better asset packages (Houston, Golden State, Magic, Spurs).

It's KD bro.

Denver needs to take advantage while they still have the best player in basketball. This move moves the needle for them. Those guys all role players. KD is still a star in this league. They can fill out the roster afterwards.

Fill out the roster with what?

And Braun is averaging like 83% FG% on cuts, 15/5/2 on an incredible TS% and has perfect synergy with Jokic all while being the team's best perimeter defender in the rotation.

I don't think Denver has the depth to win after this.

Furthermore, I think Braun is a lot better in Denver than anywhere else. Sure, he is a High IQ player but a majority of his impact comes in transition and off cuts, both of which are fed by Denver's style and personnel.

For Phoenix, they can do better than this. Randle/DDV/whatever else Minnesota offers is better. Whatever OKC offers around their salary matching is going to be better. A lot of teams wouldn't need to try hard to top this offer.

I agree and for the record, I like Denver to win it all this year.....

However, if they don't then rhey should go the other direction and break MPJ up into multiple pieces to help depth and take less off of the plate for Joker and Murray.

Toronto will probably wanna win starting next year and have alot of guys that overlap in skillset. Maybe Portland and there will be others that need a 7 foot shooter and have too many guys.

[ReggiesKnicks]

It's KD bro.

Denver needs to take advantage while they still have the best player in basketball. This move moves the needle for them. Those guys all role players. KD is still a star in this league. They can fill out the roster afterwards.

Fill out the roster with what?

And Braun is averaging like 83% FG% on cuts, 15/5/2 on an incredible TS% and has perfect synergy with Jokic all while being the team's best perimeter defender in the rotation.

I don't think Denver has the depth to win after this.

Furthermore, I think Braun is a lot better in Denver than anywhere else. Sure, he is a High IQ player but a majority of his impact comes in transition and off cuts, both of which are fed by Denver's style and personnel.

For Phoenix, they can do better than this. Randle/DDV/whatever else Minnesota offers is better. Whatever OKC offers around their salary matching is going to be better. A lot of teams wouldn't need to try hard to top this offer.

I agree and for the record, I like Denver to win it all this year.....

However, if they don't then rhey should go the other direction and break MPJ up into multiple pieces to help depth and take less off of the plate for Joker and Murray.

Toronto will probably wanna win starting next year and have alot of guys that overlap in skillset. Maybe Portland and there will be others that need a 7 foot shooter and have too many guys.

I agree but MPJ is an important piece for Denver.

He is a knock-down shooter with a difficult diet of shots and has incredible size. This allows him to be passable (I thought he was legitimately good defensively at times during the 2023 title run) defensively and fulfill a key role on the team.

When you break down MPJ, you need to get lights out shooting back since MPJ is their best shooter and has, as I said, a diet of a high degree of difficulty shots.

When you focus on shooters who Denver could get back, the first problem lies in they are likely smaller than MPJ, meaning they are in all likelihood worse defenders. After all, who is trading a 40% 3P shooter who is a positive defender for MPJ? Nobody.

That leaves the only realistic option for Denver to get a Grayson Allen type (C&S guard/wing) and a defensive stalwart back. I'm sure a team exists who could provide both, but then that team needs to want MPJ over the depth themselves.

[HornetJail]

Denver has to do this if it's offered imo.

Phoenix should get better offers

[Godaddycurse]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

Thats the most generous description of nnaji that ive seen in a while

[meekrab]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

Thats the most generous description of nnaji that ive seen in a while

Nnaji is like Denver's 11th guy there's depth and then there's the Kola bore hole.

[Alatan]

No way is Denver giving up Braun for a rental. He is the only good and cost efficient player Denver has next to Jokic. Apart from that he is the only good perimeter defender that Denver has. Without Braun Denvers bad defense becomes even worse.

MPJ+AG for KD would be great for Denver but the Suns would be crazy to do it.

Jokic
Watson
KD
Braun
Murray (sadly)

That would be a dangerous team.

Murray for KD is also and idea but i doubt the Suns are that stupid. After that Denver would be lucky to trade MPJ and AG for some depth.

Jokic
Watson
KD
Braun
3nD point of attack defender.

Is also a well balanced and dangerous team.

[BelgradeNugget]

KD has to be looking at LeBron and having a talent like Luka extend Lebron's career has to be tempting.

Imagine KD playing off of Jokic. I think Denver has to be his next destination.

Denver trades: MPJ/Braun/Nnaji/1st
PHX trades: KD

PHX gets some value for a soon to be 37yr old KD.

Denver gets KD and match the firepower of Luka/LeBron with Jokic/KD.

Is this a fair trade?

What about

Denver trades: MPJ/BraunStrawther/Nnaji/1st + 3 1st swaps
PHX trades: KD

Maybe PHX would be more interested in draft capital than young player who is perfect pair with Jokic, but questionabe asset for other teams.

[BelgradeNugget]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

Thats the most generous description of nnaji that ive seen in a while

Nnaji is like Denver's 11th guy there's depth and then there's the Kola bore hole.

Nnaji is interesting player. He is either one of the worst players in the league, unplayable or good peace of the bench. Nothing in the middle. What he looks like depends on Malone a lot.

1. Defensively he is swichable, quick, strong, good latheral movement and can really guard 1-5. Problem was he used to play great defense on his man, force him into tough shot and then commit shooting foul. From good defense to terrible instantly. Now he is not commiting stupid fouls any more, so he is one of the top 4 Nuggets defenders.
Second problem was while trying to contest every shot he was not in position to secure defensive rebounds. Still a thing. To make things worst Malone used to play him at C with Watson (who is SF) on PF. So Watson/Nnaji combo used to give a ton of O rebounds, and lineups with him on were terrible. Now Malone plays him with Jokic, fit is great and Nuggets play very good defense with him on the floor.

2. On offense he was good as strach 4 shooting 3s, cutting and going for O boards. He was terrible as pnr roller. And of course Malone used to play him as pnr roller. So he was one of the worst O players in the league. Now that he is playing with Jokic as 4 he turned into good player. And everybody knew this....except Malone. Even Calvin Booth in his post trade dedline interwiew said something like ...Nnaji is now good playing PF which is his natural position, as we all knew for quite some time.

So, after coach started playing him to his strenghts he gained his confidance back. I would put him as 7/8 Nuggets bench peace, after Westbrook, with Watson and in front of Strawther and DJ

[JustBuzzin]

KD has to be looking at LeBron and having a talent like Luka extend Lebron's career has to be tempting.

Imagine KD playing off of Jokic. I think Denver has to be his next destination.

Denver trades: MPJ/Braun/Nnaji/1st
PHX trades: KD

PHX gets some value for a soon to be 37yr old KD.

Denver gets KD and match the firepower of Luka/LeBron with Jokic/KD.

Is this a fair trade?

What about

Denver trades: MPJ/BraunStrawther/Nnaji/1st + 3 1st swaps
PHX trades: KD

Maybe PHX would be more interested in draft capital than young player who is perfect pair with Jokic, but questionabe asset for other teams.

That could work as well. Replace Braun with the picks makes sense for Denver.

[gswhoops]

KD has to be looking at LeBron and having a talent like Luka extend Lebron's career has to be tempting.

Imagine KD playing off of Jokic. I think Denver has to be his next destination.

Denver trades: MPJ/Braun/Nnaji/1st
PHX trades: KD

PHX gets some value for a soon to be 37yr old KD.

Denver gets KD and match the firepower of Luka/LeBron with Jokic/KD.

Is this a fair trade?

What about

Denver trades: MPJ/BraunStrawther/Nnaji/1st + 3 1st swaps
PHX trades: KD

Maybe PHX would be more interested in draft capital than young player who is perfect pair with Jokic, but questionabe asset for other teams.

That could work as well. Replace Braun with the picks makes sense for Denver.

Braun is the only reason Phoenix doesn’t hang up the phone immediately here.

[ReggiesKnicks]

I don't think I would do this if I were Denver. They are already short on depth and this trades 2 of their 5 starters and a long-term depth piece (Nnaji).

Thats the most generous description of nnaji that ive seen in a while

I thought you loved small sample sizes?

[JustBuzzin]

What about

Denver trades: MPJ/BraunStrawther/Nnaji/1st + 3 1st swaps
PHX trades: KD

Maybe PHX would be more interested in draft capital than young player who is perfect pair with Jokic, but questionabe asset for other teams.

That could work as well. Replace Braun with the picks makes sense for Denver.

Braun is the only reason Phoenix doesn’t hang up the phone immediately here.

The picks don't mean anything?

[gswhoops]

That could work as well. Replace Braun with the picks makes sense for Denver.

Braun is the only reason Phoenix doesn’t hang up the phone immediately here.

The picks don't mean anything?

The only pick Denver can trade this offseason is in 2032, which is so far off that its value is fairly minimal. Denver can't even really trade swaps right now because all their picks are burdened by obligations to other teams. MPJ is a complimentary player making star money and Nnaji is a clear negative value as a garbage-time player making $8M a year for 3 more years.

Braun is the only piece that makes this offer vaguely interesting for Phoenix.

[Laimbeer]

MPJ is still negative value in my book. He can shoot and little else. It's a very easy yes for Denver. If KD doesn't work out, his salary will drop off the books. I think the Suns get better offers.

[gswhoops]

MPJ is still negative value in my book. He can shoot and little else. It's a very easy yes for Denver. If KD doesn't work out, his salary will drop off the books. I think the Suns get better offers.

Yeah this is an underappreciated point for Denver. Even if KD doesn't work out, they get a get out of jail free card on the MPJ and Nnaji contracts and can properly re-tool around Joker/Murray/Gordon.

[Wigginstime]

MPJ is still negative value in my book. He can shoot and little else. It's a very easy yes for Denver. If KD doesn't work out, his salary will drop off the books. I think the Suns get better offers.

Yeah this is an underappreciated point for Denver. Even if KD doesn't work out, they get a get out of jail free card on the MPJ and Nnaji contracts and can properly re-tool around Joker/Murray/Gordon.

MPJ was viewed as a negative contract because of the health risk; however, last year he played 81 games and this year he has played 55 of 58 games.
How is MPJ a negative contract?
He is owed
2026: $38M
2027: $41M ($12M Guaranteed)

He is a 6'10" forward providing 19/7 shooting 41% from 3pt land. I would argue there is nothing negative about his contract any more. i would have agreed this was a terrible contract if this was 2023.