How does Denver retool in the offseason (Who wants Murray/MPJ?)

[luvstar]

Denver In - Jordan Poole, Marcus Smart. Vukcevic
Was In - Porter, Nnaji , Saric

[jokeboy86]

It’s funny how different the narrative is between Giannis and Jokic when in pretty similar situations. NBA media has wanted Giannis out of Milwaukee for a decade and they try as hard as they can to just ignore Jokic.

It’s simple though. Jokic doesn’t run his mouth as much as Giannis. People may love that Giannis is honest and blunt and says whatever is in his head but a lot of this speculation every year since ‘19 is because of things he himself has said. Saying he’ll do what’s best for his family or saying maybes, ifs, or who knows or talking about his legacy every offseason is the main reason the media runs wild with ideas of him leaving. Not to mention the way Bucks management never know if he’s bluffing or not when he talks but basically don’t want to wait to find out so they make knee jerk reactions and moves in order to appease him. We’ve never heard about Denver making moves to appease Jokic because they don’t have to worry about him passive aggressively putting pressure on his organization with interviews. When Jokic’s seasons have ended without titles we usually don’t hear from him again until the season starts. Guaranteed you Giannis is going to do some off season interview (regardless if he asks for a trade this year) in his native language or something talking about how he wants or has to win another ring and he won’t be satisfied until he has etc.

I know Jokic comes off as a guy who doesn’t care about those things in interviews but I don’t think you can be as good as Jokic is without loving basketball and competing. Giannis speaks emotionally and wears his heart on his sleeve, he talks more about loyalty and family than anyone else too so I don’t think it’s trying to be passive aggressive. NBA media has just wanted Giannis out of Milwaukee even before then, those questions being asked are evidence of it.

You also got to factor in that nothing Jokic says or does on the basketball court moves the needle or generates eyeballs or page clicks period. The media dreads always talking about Jokic because there is absolutely no money in talking about him ala Tim Duncan. The only way the media would talk about Jokic and cover him in a ridiculous amount is if he played for the Knicks or Lakers.

Contrary to this whole face of the league talk they harp on, the media knows Giannis is a star. He's got the personality, story, and excitement to his game that still gets eyeballs and attention. They're just mad and dont understand why someone with Giannis's star power doesnt act like Lebron or Durant and leaves and moves around when they're not winning.

Lebron and Durant really started this whole thing where basically if you're a small market elite "star" who goes 2 years or more w/o winning a title or making the Finals then you should leave or ask out. Ever since the media has gone wild with it. Watch what happens if the T-Wolves dont get to the Finals and go another year with the same result. We'll see the media try to get Edwards out of Minnesota.

[BigGargamel]

Anyone saying the Nuggets should trade Jokic. Please, stick to talking about your own teams. You are looking foolish.

Trading Jokic is not on the table. At all. He's the best player in franchise history, pretty easily. Denver is in contention every year, solely because of him. They will trade all 14 other guys before even considering trading Jokic. We are several years of turmoil away from entertaining that possibility.

Just because you have the ability to comment on things you know nothing about, doesn't mean you always should.

[og15]

Denver:

Michael Porter, Jr + Jalen Pickett + future protected 1st

FOR

PJ Washington + Naji Marshall + Max Christie

————

Denver:

C - Nikola Jokic | DaRon Holmes
PF - Aaron Gordon | PJ Washington
SF - Naji Marshall
SG - Christian Braun | Max Christie
PG - Jamal Murray | Russell Westbrook

Dallas:

C - Cooper Flagg | Daniel Gafford | Dereck Lively
PF - Anthony Davis
SF - Michael Porter Jr | Caleb Martin
SG - Klay Thompson
PG - Kyrie Irving

Hahaha, Klay and MPJ together, and Flagg as the center?????????

Yea, that whole idea is a mess

[Johnny Firpo]

Anyone saying the Nuggets should trade Jokic. Please, stick to talking about your own teams. You are looking foolish.

Trading Jokic is not on the table. At all. He's the best player in franchise history, pretty easily. Denver is in contention every year, solely because of him. They will trade all 14 other guys before even considering trading Jokic. We are several years of turmoil away from entertaining that possibility.

Just because you have the ability to comment on things you know nothing about, doesn't mean you always should.

People just want to see him on a better team, that's all this is about. It's not against the Nuggets, they just don't want to see him waist many more years with that roster, which is clearly not up to par with what the other stars in the league are working with.

[Ugly0598]

Denver:

Michael Porter, Jr + Jalen Pickett + future protected 1st

FOR

PJ Washington + Naji Marshall + Max Christie

————

Denver:

C - Nikola Jokic | DaRon Holmes
PF - Aaron Gordon | PJ Washington
SF - Naji Marshall
SG - Christian Braun | Max Christie
PG - Jamal Murray | Russell Westbrook

Dallas:

C - Cooper Flagg | Daniel Gafford | Dereck Lively
PF - Anthony Davis
SF - Michael Porter Jr | Caleb Martin
SG - Klay Thompson
PG - Kyrie Irving

Hahaha, Klay and MPJ together, and Flagg as the center?????????

Yea, that whole idea is a mess

Having a bunch of PF & C’s gonna help the Mavericks?

[BigGargamel]

I think MPJ has more value than people seem to think. His playoff run was a stinker but he was hurt, I'll give him that. He's become durable, and shoots the ball at a very solid clip. He's also a decent rebounder. His contract isn't great, but not terribly overpaid by 2025 standards. It's not like Jamal Murray, who is set to make SIXTY MILLION DOLLARS soon. He's probably the only player on the roster (other than Braun and maybe Gordon) who can bring in any positive value. If Denver wants to do anything, it will probably have to be him who's traded. But it won't be for straight trash like a lot of proposals I've seen over the years. Like Jordan Poole for example. Why? He does everything worse.

[BigGargamel]

My last post of the day before I move on for now.

Denver has 3 of the 34 highest paid players in the NBA. And I'm almost certain they are MPJ and Murray are the only two players on the first page of this list in this link to never be an All Star.

https://www.espn.com/nba/salaries/_/seasontype/3

[HMFFL]

Christian Braun will be a fixture in Denver. Stop wasting your time with the trade proposals.

[Slimjimzv]

I know this won't be popular, but I think Denver should tank in 2026. They need assets quickly, and they currently don't have much. If they can maneuver their way to a high pick in another strong draft, they can either use it, or trade it for a win-now player. They're so weirdly locked up right now, I don't see many better alternatives. They're not going to trade Murray, Braun, or Gordon for anything better than Murray, Braun, or Gordon, and their other players are either too expensive, or not good enough. Their 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks are locked up, and they're not allowed to trade the even year picks until after the player is selected. So, maybe they can draft someone with upside this year and trade them and filler for something like Collin Sexton?

[Wolfgang630]

I know this won't be popular, but I think Denver should tank in 2026. They need assets quickly, and they currently don't have much. If they can maneuver their way to a high pick in another strong draft, they can either use it, or trade it for a win-now player. They're so weirdly locked up right now, I don't see many better alternatives. They're not going to trade Murray, Braun, or Gordon for anything better than Murray, Braun, or Gordon, and their other players are either too expensive, or not good enough. Their 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks are locked up, and they're not allowed to trade the even year picks until after the player is selected. So, maybe they can draft someone with upside this year and trade them and filler for something like Collin Sexton?

WTH am I reading. No one is tanking while Jokic is in his prime. If they standstill then the best they can do is MAKE THE BENCH BETTER. Veterans who can contribute. Someone who can score off the bench like a Jordan Clarkson. Not saying you can get him, but just using him for example. And for the love of god a real backup center who can contribute, so when Jokic sits these bench players come in and don’t blow lead after lead to where he has to use more energy to recapture the lead.

[Slimjimzv]

I know this won't be popular, but I think Denver should tank in 2026. They need assets quickly, and they currently don't have much. If they can maneuver their way to a high pick in another strong draft, they can either use it, or trade it for a win-now player. They're so weirdly locked up right now, I don't see many better alternatives. They're not going to trade Murray, Braun, or Gordon for anything better than Murray, Braun, or Gordon, and their other players are either too expensive, or not good enough. Their 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks are locked up, and they're not allowed to trade the even year picks until after the player is selected. So, maybe they can draft someone with upside this year and trade them and filler for something like Collin Sexton?

WTH am I reading. No one is tanking while Jokic is in his prime. If they standstill then the best they can do is MAKE THE BENCH BETTER. Veterans who can contribute. Someone who can score off the bench like a Jordan Clarkson. Not saying you can get him, but just using him for example. And for the love of god a real backup center who can contribute, so when Jokic sits these bench players come in and don’t blow lead after lead to where he has to use more energy to recapture the lead.

Told you it wouldn't be popular

You're probably right, but I don't see Denver retooling enough to become championship contenders without getting some real punch off the bench. And I just don't see what assets they have to draw that. Maybe they can go deeper into the cap and sign someone /shrug.

[Lalouie]

you don't get rid of murray because it essentially means you're blowing it up

YOU DON'T "BLOW UP" A RING TEAM only two years removed. it's still a core to add to because joker IS the core

but drop mpj. he hit his ceiling 3yrs ago. he's a 6'10 lavine only streaky as hell

[dkb964]

I keep hearing that the Nuggets should try to get KD with a package centered around MPJ. It would be impossible to roster a squad with Jokic/KD/Murray making 150M next season.

[BigGargamel]

I know this won't be popular, but I think Denver should tank in 2026. They need assets quickly, and they currently don't have much. If they can maneuver their way to a high pick in another strong draft, they can either use it, or trade it for a win-now player. They're so weirdly locked up right now, I don't see many better alternatives. They're not going to trade Murray, Braun, or Gordon for anything better than Murray, Braun, or Gordon, and their other players are either too expensive, or not good enough. Their 2025, 2027, and 2029 picks are locked up, and they're not allowed to trade the even year picks until after the player is selected. So, maybe they can draft someone with upside this year and trade them and filler for something like Collin Sexton?

WTH am I reading. No one is tanking while Jokic is in his prime. If they standstill then the best they can do is MAKE THE BENCH BETTER. Veterans who can contribute. Someone who can score off the bench like a Jordan Clarkson. Not saying you can get him, but just using him for example. And for the love of god a real backup center who can contribute, so when Jokic sits these bench players come in and don’t blow lead after lead to where he has to use more energy to recapture the lead.

Told you it wouldn't be popular

You're probably right, but I don't see Denver retooling enough to become championship contenders without getting some real punch off the bench. And I just don't see what assets they have to draw that. Maybe they can go deeper into the cap and sign someone /shrug.

It's not that it's "unpopular". It's just impossible. Jokic dragged a bunch of dudes who were out of the league 1 year later to 47 wins a few years ago. He himself is worth 40+ wins. The only way you tank is to sit the guy for the whole year, and of course, they would be fined into oblivion.

[mrvioletowl]

They can try and grab Collins and Clarkson from Utah for MPJ and a 2030 1st round pick, then turn around and Trade Nnaji for Micic or Tre Mann.
Alternatively, do MPJ and a pick to Bulls for Vucevic and Huerter, and then Nnaji, Saric and Watson for Bogi. Pick up Patty Mills or Banton for vet min.

[Fantastik_Goat]

It’s not smart, but fun!

MPJ and Murray for Lavine and DeRozen

Sacramento would be a worse Denver, While Denver would be a way better Bulls.

[NZB2323]

Under the new CBA, it’s tough for all teams that lost in the 2nd round. Denver, GS, Cleveland, and Boston all have expensive payrolls and have to deal with aprons.

[bovice]

i hope the NBA assists in helping jokic find quality teammates

[Mrakar]

It’s not smart, but fun!

MPJ and Murray for Lavine and DeRozen

Sacramento would be a worse Denver, While Denver would be a way better Bulls.

lol no...

People here fail to realise that the Nuggets just pushed best nba team to game 7, with injured MPJ who sucked whole series.
If they had one more solid bench piece for playoffs and maybe one-two more borderline bench playera to survive the season they could have won this series and would probably be favourites to win it all after that.
Yes, Nuggets players are incosistent, but their starting 5 is still championship caliber starting. Bench is/was the problem, not only lack of depth in the PO but also lack of energy bcs guys had to play so many minutes in regular season. If they had Bruce Brown, Justin Holiday and corpse of Jeff Green i think they would have won it again this year. They have 7 G-League playera on the roster, no1 can survive that. OKC won this with depth, not with quality.