That four-team trade that was supposed to make the Nuggets better made them worse

GeorgeSears · Post #1 » by **GeorgeSears** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 1:53 am

Remember back in 2020 there was that big four team trade: Nuggets, TWolves, Rockets, and Hawks?

The Nuggets gave away Juancho, Vanderbilt, and Beasley

In return, they received Houston's 1st round pick (2020), Noah Vonleh, Shabazz Napier, Green. The trade basically amounted to three rotation players for a 1st round pick.

The Nuggets that year used that pick and drafted Zeke Nnaji and then traded for RJ Hampton. Hampton is no longer on the team, and my guess is neither will Zeke after this season.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt and Beasley have been solid contributors for TWolves, and now Lakers. I didn't like the trade then, and it's looking a lot worse now. It was a blunder by Connelly.

skywalker33 · Post #2 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:43 am

As I recall things, it was clear Beasley was looking for a big payday (which he got from MINN) and we had better players to be paid. I was like the Nuggets were between a rock and a hard place. I wasn't happy with the trade (especially giving up Vandy, thought he would become what he has). Beasley hasn't become the player expected when he was drafted, nor has Juancho.

Obviously, Connelly's strength was never trades, not our problem now, time to move forward towards our championship this year.

TunaFish · Post #3 » by **TunaFish** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:55 am

skywalker33 wrote:As I recall things, it was clear Beasley was looking for a big payday (which he got from MINN) and we had better players to be paid. I was like the Nuggets were between a rock and a hard place. I wasn't happy with the trade (especially giving up Vandy, thought he would become what he has). Beasley hasn't become the player expected when he was drafted, nor has Juancho.

Obviously, Connelly's strength was never trades, not our problem now, time to move forward towards our championship this year.

Correct. Malik Beasley signed a 4 year / $60,000,000 contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, including a $300,000 signing bonus, $43,475,894 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $15,000,000.

Post #4 » by **The Rebel** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:57 pm

If I remember right most of us were pissed when that deal happened and knew it happened to save money but also to remove Beasley who had started becoming a problem off the court with his fight and reported issues dealing with a crazy woman.

I never understood the constant praise that Connelly got especially in Denver. While not a Broncos fan, it shocked me how many were callibg for Elway's head, 2 years after winning the Superbowl and the would turn around and praise Connelly on Denver sports radio. How fans all loved the guy.

I still remember when he signed Hickson and then refused to trade Faried (there were rumors we turned down the pick to draft Oladipo) while holding out hope for Igoudala and never even contacting any other free agent SGs for 11 days. Most of us knew that Nurkic should have been traded months before he was. Beasley if he was traded the summer before would have brought back a 1st easily alone.I can only think of 1 or two times when Connelly made a trade and I thought we did okay.

Don't even get me started on free agency and keeping certain guys who obviously didn't want to be here or no longer fit.

I Never got all the praise that Connelly got from local and national guys, I thought he should have been fired years ago and was not happy when they gave him the extension that he ended up opting out of. So far we have been better off, and the Twolves fans are still scratching their heads trying to figure out what the **** everybody saw in Connelly.

Coeur · Post #5 » by **Coeur** » Fri Mar 3, 2023 12:45 am

That trade wasn’t to get better, it was to get something out of the guys they were going to lose anyway and they got .50 on the dollar

It’s the equivalent of if we never trade off Nnaji and Cancar and Braun and this time I hope we don’t either.

No matter how good Vanderbilt looks Malone didnt play him and we can’t say missing him. Kind of like same for Bolbol

Just seems weird that JV and Bolbol seem like the missing type players to fill out the roster. Just Malone didn’t like them flat out. Just hope he ends up good enough coach that’s worth letting kind of squander some assets for. Bones the latest example.

Manolito · Post #6 » by **Manolito** » Fri Mar 3, 2023 8:05 am

The only really missing peace is Vanderbilt. It is really a pity because he was added to the trade as a filler, but I doubt he would have had some minutes to develop into todays player. Anyway he would be 7/8 player in the roster, it is not a huge lost

Beasley is a chuker we dont need at that price. Bol Bol defense is non existant, he cant play in Play Off, but he was not included in that trade anyway.

On the other hand, Nnaji is not a consistent player because of injuries, and does not seem to become more than a solid bench player. Maybe we could take the opportunity to lowball him this summer, but I doubt he accepts.

That trade went worst than expected due to Vanderbilt, which was kind of hard to predict, although Beasley seemed to become a better player than what he did. I think it was a fair trade with zero influence in todays situation. There were some uncertainties as many young players were involved

skywalker33 · Post #7 » by **skywalker33** » Fri Mar 3, 2023 11:41 pm

I think I have a bit more faith/hope in Nnaji. He just turned 22yo, most young bigs take longer to grow their game to a comfortable level in the NBA. He has shown he has a decent stroke for a big, even out to the 3-pt arc. Just before he was hurt, he was showing some good play off the bench IMO. While you're right, he really hasn't gotten anyone sold on who he'll become, but he still has potential there. He feels much more like a PF than a C but, if he can get stronger on the boards and work on his confidence, he can become a good asset. And what do you expect, he was just the 22nd pick so he really hasn't had a lot of mins, plus he has been hurt.

Coeur · Post #8 » by **Coeur** » Mon Mar 6, 2023 12:34 am

skywalker33 wrote:I think I have a bit more faith/hope in Nnaji. He just turned 22yo, most young bigs take longer to grow their game to a comfortable level in the NBA. He has shown he has a decent stroke for a big, even out to the 3-pt arc. Just before he was hurt, he was showing some good play off the bench IMO. While you're right, he really hasn't gotten anyone sold on who he'll become, but he still has potential there. He feels much more like a PF than a C but, if he can get stronger on the boards and work on his confidence, he can become a good asset. And what do you expect, he was just the 22nd pick so he really hasn't had a lot of mins, plus he has been hurt.

What if he’s more SG than C ? I think his best use now is big covering 2 and 3 spots. Is there any way he could play SG ?

Really I think he should be used just like AG50.

Who could play SG best out of MPJ, NNaji, AG50, and Cancar? D and O ?

skywalker33 · Post #9 » by **skywalker33** » Mon Mar 6, 2023 3:12 pm

Coeur wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:I think I have a bit more faith/hope in Nnaji. He just turned 22yo, most young bigs take longer to grow their game to a comfortable level in the NBA. He has shown he has a decent stroke for a big, even out to the 3-pt arc. Just before he was hurt, he was showing some good play off the bench IMO. While you're right, he really hasn't gotten anyone sold on who he'll become, but he still has potential there. He feels much more like a PF than a C but, if he can get stronger on the boards and work on his confidence, he can become a good asset. And what do you expect, he was just the 22nd pick so he really hasn't had a lot of mins, plus he has been hurt.

What if he’s more SG than C ? I think his best use now is big covering 2 and 3 spots. Is there any way he could play SG ?

Really I think he should be used just like AG50.

Who could play SG best out of MPJ, NNaji, AG50, and Cancar? D and O ?

Doubt anyone of those has the foot speed to play SG on D, but if you're looking for a big SG, seems Peyton Watson is being groomed for that role.

Richard Miller · Post #10 » by **Richard Miller** » Mon Mar 6, 2023 7:41 pm

Coeur wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:I think I have a bit more faith/hope in Nnaji. He just turned 22yo, most young bigs take longer to grow their game to a comfortable level in the NBA. He has shown he has a decent stroke for a big, even out to the 3-pt arc. Just before he was hurt, he was showing some good play off the bench IMO. While you're right, he really hasn't gotten anyone sold on who he'll become, but he still has potential there. He feels much more like a PF than a C but, if he can get stronger on the boards and work on his confidence, he can become a good asset. And what do you expect, he was just the 22nd pick so he really hasn't had a lot of mins, plus he has been hurt.

What if he’s more SG than C ? I think his best use now is big covering 2 and 3 spots. Is there any way he could play SG ?

Really I think he should be used just like AG50.

Who could play SG best out of MPJ, NNaji, AG50, and Cancar? D and O ?

Nah, Zeke even bulked up last summer, not SG by any stretch of imagination