Zeke Nnaji to Utah

[babyjax13]

UTA trades: John Konchar
DEN trades: Zeke Nnaji, 2028 MIN 2nd, 2031 SAC 2nd, 2033 DEN 2nd

Utah gets some seconds for taking on Nnaji's second year. Denver swaps Nnaji for a cheaper, better player (they save $1.3 million). That $1.3 million is enough that resigning Spencer Jones they only need to move about 500k in salaries to get under the first apron. I could see something like swapping DaRon Holmes for a cheaper, older player being pretty doable (e.g., Jericho Sims).

[Godaddycurse]

This accomplishes nothing for Denver on the court though

[babyjax13]

This accomplishes nothing for Denver on the court though

I disagree. Konchar can play above average defense for 10 minutes and is a good passer who creates opportunities for other players. He is a fine 12th man who plays a bit more than usual in the RS to preserve some of your other players. Nnaji shouldn't play at all, ever. Granted this is probably Konchar's last year in the NBA. I think every team would prefer someone younger. But even as a trade piece Konchar is expor9ng filler whereas every team would look at Nnaji's second year with some disgust.

[psman2]

This accomplishes nothing for Denver on the court though

I disagree. Konchar can play above average defense for 10 minutes and is a good passer who creates opportunities for other players. He is a fine 12th man who plays a bit more than usual in the RS to preserve some of your other players. Nnaji shouldn't play at all, ever. Granted this is probably Konchar's last year in the NBA. I think every team would prefer someone younger. But even as a trade piece Konchar is expor9ng filler whereas every team would look at Nnaji's second year with some disgust.

I do too, Konchar game is perfect as a jack of all trades team first guy to fill in around Denver's stars, I would have no problem playing him 15-20 minutes, especially in the regular season where they need competent minutes eaters. He is a smart player, decent shooter and defender, and elite rebounder for his position. He is a player like Dean Wade, he won't win many one and one matchups, but will do the dirty work to give you little advantages on the margin and you team will usually win the minutes he plays.

Now If I was Memphis and Denver didn't want any money back, I would be tempted to take him on just for the 3 2nds. So then it just a question of if Denver see's value in Konchar or rather just sign a FA and take more money savings.

[babyjax13]

This accomplishes nothing for Denver on the court though

I disagree. Konchar can play above average defense for 10 minutes and is a good passer who creates opportunities for other players. He is a fine 12th man who plays a bit more than usual in the RS to preserve some of your other players. Nnaji shouldn't play at all, ever. Granted this is probably Konchar's last year in the NBA. I think every team would prefer someone younger. But even as a trade piece Konchar is expor9ng filler whereas every team would look at Nnaji's second year with some disgust.

I do too, Konchar game is perfect as a jack of all trades team first guy to fill in around Denver's stars, I would have no problem playing him 15-20 minutes, especially in the regular season where they need competent minutes eaters. He is a smart player, decent shooter and defender, and elite rebounder for his position. He is a player like Dean Wade, he won't win many one and one matchups, but will do the dirty work to give you little advantages on the margin and you team will usually win the minutes he plays.

Now If I was Memphis and Denver didn't want any money back, I would be tempted to take him on just for the 3 2nds. So then it just a question of if Denver see's value in Konchar or rather just sign a FA and take more money savings.

I think that is a better route for Denver if Memphis just takes Nnaji for the 2nds.

[Godaddycurse]

This accomplishes nothing for Denver on the court though

I disagree. Konchar can play above average defense for 10 minutes and is a good passer who creates opportunities for other players. He is a fine 12th man who plays a bit more than usual in the RS to preserve some of your other players. Nnaji shouldn't play at all, ever. Granted this is probably Konchar's last year in the NBA. I think every team would prefer someone younger. But even as a trade piece Konchar is expor9ng filler whereas every team would look at Nnaji's second year with some disgust.

Denver shouldnt waste their last seconds on a 12th man

[jayjaysee]

Denver has clean swaps in 2028/2030/2031 if they want to try to turn Nnaji into a useful cheaper player with Memphis or Utah..

As for the OP - I think value is right. It solves some of the Jones issue but not the Watson/Cam one that Denver seems to just be ignoring..

[babyjax13]

Denver has clean swaps in 2028/2030/2031 if they want to try to turn Nnaji into a useful cheaper player with Memphis or Utah..

As for the OP - I think value is right. It solves some of the Jones issue but not the Watson/Cam one that Denver seems to just be ignoring..

My thought was that a swap/swaps + Konchar would result in a more useful player, potentially, than a swap/swaps + Nnaji.

[jayjaysee]

Denver has clean swaps in 2028/2030/2031 if they want to try to turn Nnaji into a useful cheaper player with Memphis or Utah..

As for the OP - I think value is right. It solves some of the Jones issue but not the Watson/Cam one that Denver seems to just be ignoring..

My thought was that a swap/swaps + Konchar would result in a more useful player, potentially, than a swap/swaps + Nnaji.

It might. just don’t know if the other team trading cheap players would prefer the extra cap flexibility of Konchar or the 3 seconds of Nnaji.

Teams with tax problems / free agency dreams would take Konchar. The rest I would think would take the extra seconds and not involve Utah.

[babyjax13]

Denver has clean swaps in 2028/2030/2031 if they want to try to turn Nnaji into a useful cheaper player with Memphis or Utah..

As for the OP - I think value is right. It solves some of the Jones issue but not the Watson/Cam one that Denver seems to just be ignoring..

My thought was that a swap/swaps + Konchar would result in a more useful player, potentially, than a swap/swaps + Nnaji.

It might. just don’t know if the other team trading cheap players would prefer the extra cap flexibility of Konchar or the 3 seconds of Nnaji.

Teams with tax problems / free agency dreams would take Konchar. The rest I would think would take the extra seconds and not involve Utah.

There are just so few teams without those problems, it seems like.

[chrbal]

Of all possible trades, this is certainly one of them. I’m kind of surprised that Denver didn’t already do something like this. It’s crazy this has played out because of Spencer Jones

[pipfan]

How good/bad is Nnaji?

What if the Bulls absorbed him for a 2030 swap with the Nugs?

It would save Den A TON of $ with the tax, but what is his game like?

[Bernman]

Spotrac shows 1.9m over the 2nd apron, so this wouldn't even accomplish this very niche goal. If they're trading Nnaji they probably want to clear him for full tax/apron space, not another wing making marginally less. Though it may well cost them a 1st. Minimum boatload of 2nds or 1st swap.