Denver dumps a Nugget in Utah

[babyjax13]

DEN trades: Zeke Nnaji, 2031 DEN 1st (pick swap, UTA receives higher of UTA/DEN 1st, DEN receives lower // protections?)
UTA trades: Omer Yurtseven
Denver undoes a mistake and gets under the second apron, Utah banks some future value while they are rebuilding. Maybe Nnaji can rehab some value over the course of the contract. Jokic would be 35 by 2031 so I think there is some room for this pick to be decent (and obviously it is impossible to know what a team looks like that far out).

[Waynearchetype]

Not sure Yurtseven provides anything a vet min center couldn't, definitely not worth a first.

[gswhoops]

Not sure Yurtseven provides anything a vet min center couldn't, definitely not worth a first.

I agree re: Yurtseven, but most of the value here is getting off Nnaji's deal.

[JustBuzzin]

That title is WILD!

[babyjax13]

Not sure Yurtseven provides anything a vet min center couldn't, definitely not worth a first.

I agree re: Yurtseven, but most of the value here is getting off Nnaji's deal.

Nnaji's deal is the entire value. Yurt is maybe worth a 2nd, but probably not. He is a solid backup, though, and would have a role in Denver.

[Godaddycurse]

Nuggets owe 2029 top 5 protected x2 yrs to OKC though

[babyjax13]

Nuggets owe 2029 top 5 protected x2 yrs to OKC though

Ah, you are right. I think 2031 is still tradeable so I'll switch it

[gswhoops]

Not sure Yurtseven provides anything a vet min center couldn't, definitely not worth a first.

I agree re: Yurtseven, but most of the value here is getting off Nnaji's deal.

Nnaji's deal is the entire value. Yurt is maybe worth a 2nd, but probably not. He is a solid backup, though, and would have a role in Denver.

"Solid backup" would actually be a substantial improvement compared to what Denver is currently rolling out behind Joker tbh.

[babyjax13]

I agree re: Yurtseven, but most of the value here is getting off Nnaji's deal.

Nnaji's deal is the entire value. Yurt is maybe worth a 2nd, but probably not. He is a solid backup, though, and would have a role in Denver.

"Solid backup" would actually be a substantial improvement compared to what Denver is currently rolling out behind Joker tbh.

Serviceable may be more accurate but yah, I think he is a fair bit better than Nnaji/Jordan.

[Texas Chuck]

Some team should do this if Denver wants to. But I think Denver would have to get back a truly playable guy --and ideally not a center because you can sign a playable backup center in free agency basically every year.

And i think they would prefer a player over just the tax savings.

[psman2]

Beside saving some tax does this really help Denver on the court or their ability to make trades to improve their team.

[babyjax13]

Beside saving some tax does this really help Denver on the court or their ability to make trades to improve their team.

It gives them margin to retain KCP without going over the apron, so it keeps a lot open that won't otherwise be available.

[psman2]

Beside saving some tax does this really help Denver on the court or their ability to make trades to improve their team.

It gives them margin to retain KCP without going over the apron, so it keeps a lot open that won't otherwise be available.

So after they pay KCP and get some wiggle room under the apron with this trade then what assets and salary can they use in a trade to improve their team?

[babyjax13]

Beside saving some tax does this really help Denver on the court or their ability to make trades to improve their team.

It gives them margin to retain KCP without going over the apron, so it keeps a lot open that won't otherwise be available.

So after they pay KCP and get some wiggle room under the apron with this trade then what assets and salary can they use in a trade to improve their team?

The same things they have available now minus one swap? The second apron is debilitating and the thing keeping them over it is one of the most unexplainable contracts I've ever seen, what has Nnaji done to justify more than the minimum? They should dump his deal, it is not worth staying over the apron and if they are over it this prevents them from trading picks, aggregating salaries, etc. So, I did not have something specific in mind, but I do think they should use a pick swap to dump Nnaji, whether for pure cap or a guy of the caliber of Yurtseven at a different position.

[Texas Chuck]

[I did not have something specific in mind, but I do think they should use a pick swap to dump Nnaji, whether for pure cap or a guy of the caliber of Yurtseven at a different position.

A Nugget fan floated pick 28/Nnaji for Powell/Exum. I think Denver might could do better than that, but his idea seemed sound. He found two playable guys for the same money as an unplayable one. If instead of giving up the pick, he gave up your swap I think the value makes more sense. Now Dallas probably doesn't bite with the swap in place of the pick because they'd want to use the pick to turn THJ into something better and/or cheaper and just live with the dead Nnaji money as a cost of business down the road.

But maybe there is another team with 2 cheap playable guys willing to take on another swap. Like would Presti do Kenrich/Dieng to pick up another high variance swap? He might right? It's a Presti thing to do.

Or would Detroit do something around Grimes?

IDK it just feels to make more sense to do it all in one swoop and just accept being over the 2nd apron. But admittedly I don't have a Scoot level handle on this new CBA at all.

[babyjax13]

[I did not have something specific in mind, but I do think they should use a pick swap to dump Nnaji, whether for pure cap or a guy of the caliber of Yurtseven at a different position.

A Nugget fan floated pick 28/Nnaji for Powell/Exum. I think Denver might could do better than that, but his idea seemed sound. He found two playable guys for the same money as an unplayable one. If instead of giving up the pick, he gave up your swap I think the value makes more sense. Now Dallas probably doesn't bite with the swap in place of the pick because they'd want to use the pick to turn THJ into something better and/or cheaper and just live with the dead Nnaji money as a cost of business down the road.

But maybe there is another team with 2 cheap playable guys willing to take on another swap. Like would Presti do Kenrich/Dieng to pick up another high variance swap? He might right? It's a Presti thing to do.

Or would Detroit do something around Grimes?

IDK it just feels to make more sense to do it all in one swoop and just accept being over the 2nd apron. But admittedly I don't have a Scoot level handle on this new CBA at all.

No one else does have a Scoot level handle, haha. I'm not sure the best route, a swap to get two playable guys also seems like a good option, but only if they are willing to go over the second apron to retain KCP. Otherwise, I think they need about $5 million in payroll reduced (at least) to be close to managing that while giving him a raise to $18-20 million a season (which I imagine is what it takes).

[Texas Chuck]

[I did not have something specific in mind, but I do think they should use a pick swap to dump Nnaji, whether for pure cap or a guy of the caliber of Yurtseven at a different position.

A Nugget fan floated pick 28/Nnaji for Powell/Exum. I think Denver might could do better than that, but his idea seemed sound. He found two playable guys for the same money as an unplayable one. If instead of giving up the pick, he gave up your swap I think the value makes more sense. Now Dallas probably doesn't bite with the swap in place of the pick because they'd want to use the pick to turn THJ into something better and/or cheaper and just live with the dead Nnaji money as a cost of business down the road.

But maybe there is another team with 2 cheap playable guys willing to take on another swap. Like would Presti do Kenrich/Dieng to pick up another high variance swap? He might right? It's a Presti thing to do.

Or would Detroit do something around Grimes?

IDK it just feels to make more sense to do it all in one swoop and just accept being over the 2nd apron. But admittedly I don't have a Scoot level handle on this new CBA at all.

No one else does have a Scoot level handle, haha. I'm not sure the best route, a swap to get two playable guys also seems like a good option, but only if they are willing to go over the second apron to retain KCP. Otherwise, I think they need about $5 million in payroll reduced (at least) to be close to managing that while giving him a raise to $18-20 million a season (which I imagine is what it takes).

Yeah I have keeping KCP as near mandatory. And if that means they have to pay to dump salary (either for Apron or just simple budget reasons) I think your idea is fine.

[gswhoops]

A Nugget fan floated pick 28/Nnaji for Powell/Exum. I think Denver might could do better than that, but his idea seemed sound. He found two playable guys for the same money as an unplayable one. If instead of giving up the pick, he gave up your swap I think the value makes more sense. Now Dallas probably doesn't bite with the swap in place of the pick because they'd want to use the pick to turn THJ into something better and/or cheaper and just live with the dead Nnaji money as a cost of business down the road.

But maybe there is another team with 2 cheap playable guys willing to take on another swap. Like would Presti do Kenrich/Dieng to pick up another high variance swap? He might right? It's a Presti thing to do.

Or would Detroit do something around Grimes?

IDK it just feels to make more sense to do it all in one swoop and just accept being over the 2nd apron. But admittedly I don't have a Scoot level handle on this new CBA at all.

No one else does have a Scoot level handle, haha. I'm not sure the best route, a swap to get two playable guys also seems like a good option, but only if they are willing to go over the second apron to retain KCP. Otherwise, I think they need about $5 million in payroll reduced (at least) to be close to managing that while giving him a raise to $18-20 million a season (which I imagine is what it takes).

Yeah I have keeping KCP as near mandatory. And if that means they have to pay to dump salary (either for Apron or just simple budget reasons) I think your idea is fine.

Yeah same. I’d even dump MPJ if I had to in order to keep KCP

[Domejandro]

I think the premise of the trade is correct, but the value here would be something like #28 (and maybe a second or two), with Utah having to find another trade partner to either trade out of the Draft or consolidate and move up.

[BelgradeNugget]

[I did not have something specific in mind, but I do think they should use a pick swap to dump Nnaji, whether for pure cap or a guy of the caliber of Yurtseven at a different position.

A Nugget fan floated pick 28/Nnaji for Powell/Exum. I think Denver might could do better than that, but his idea seemed sound. He found two playable guys for the same money as an unplayable one. If instead of giving up the pick, he gave up your swap I think the value makes more sense. Now Dallas probably doesn't bite with the swap in place of the pick because they'd want to use the pick to turn THJ into something better and/or cheaper and just live with the dead Nnaji money as a cost of business down the road.

But maybe there is another team with 2 cheap playable guys willing to take on another swap. Like would Presti do Kenrich/Dieng to pick up another high variance swap? He might right? It's a Presti thing to do.

Or would Detroit do something around Grimes?

IDK it just feels to make more sense to do it all in one swoop and just accept being over the 2nd apron. But admittedly I don't have a Scoot level handle on this new CBA at all.

Here is a thing about pick 28/Nnaji for Powell/Exum trade I proposed. Denver doesn't need just upgrade on backup C. Denver needs upgrade on backup C and backup PG. It would be great to get rid of Nnaji's contract in process which is bad deal. And if we could get under 2nd apron too it would be great. So for this to work trade partner needs to have solid playable players which will satisfy Nuggets needs and at the same time players that are expendable. And ready to accept Nnaji and not so great pick. I used 2 catch all stats to check players. Here is a result

1. Dante Exum is 145 in EPM and 163 in LeBron. There are 30 teams in the league so if 1-30 means 1st player on a team, 31-60 solid second... by these metrics Dante Exum is bad 5th player or good 6th player. We need him to be 6th player. He is on 3,150,000 contract. Dallas could keep him as solid player but don't need him having Luka and Kyrie as PGs. Nuggets backup PG is Reggie Jackson, 298 in EPM and 273 in LeBron. That is on the level of 9th-10th best player on a team. He was our 6th player

2. Dwight Powell is 212 in EPM and 174 in LeBron. Level of 6th to 8th best player. He was a starter for Dallas last year. Not good for that role, and for this year Dallas needed player who can play 20+ minutes while Lively is learning NBA basketball. They upgraded their roster with Gaford which made Dwight Powell expendable. In Denver he needs to play 13-15 minutes in rs to keep Jokic fresh and not totally stink. Nuggets used DeAndre Jordan as backup C who was 369 in EPM and 278 in LeBron on the level of 9th-12th best player per team. Nnaji as other option was 427 and 496 or 14th to 16th player. Powell is making 4mil next season, Nnaji is on 7/32 contract.

3. Money - with this deal Nuggets clear $8,888,889 of Nnaji's contract + $2,538,240 for 1st round pick, around 11 mil. If Reggie opts out it is additional 5,2 mil, all in all 16 mil. If Reggie doesn't opt out, trade him with 2nd for cap space. In that scenario we even get trade exception (remember we are under 2nd apron this way). We get back 7,1 mil for Dante and Dwight. That is 9 mil off of the salary cap. Denver doesn't need 28th pick. We already have 5 late first or early 2nd round picks from last two years to develop. With money cleared we can resign KCP with up to 20% rise, and still sign 3rd center (small ball, switch everything type - Xavier Tillman, Usman Garuba) and keep Vlatko Cancar. Or just sign Omer Yurtseven after Utah declines his TO.

4. It is important for players to buy into their roles and Dante Exum and Dwight Powell would be ok with their roles in Denver.