The Denver Nuggets have one of the best players in the league, Nikola Jokic. He has taken his play up a level this season, and yet the Nuggets have struggled, especially on the offensive end of the floor. Jamal Murray has been inconsistent as the second scorer on the team. The other players are role guys who are volatile on a night-to-night basis. As the trade deadline approaches, Denver is likely to be very aggressive in acquiring another scorer. There are plenty of good options out there, but a recent report indicated that they are focusing on Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine.
Denver Nuggets Eyeing Zach LaVine
LaVine has been on the trade block for a few years. His huge contract, along with injuries and inconsistent scoring, have made him hard to trade. This year, he has played much better, increasing his trade value. The Bulls star is averaging 21.7 points per game and, more importantly, shooting 42.8% from three. Last year, LaVine shot 34.9% from three and has only been over 40% once in his career. Tony Jones and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported the Denver Nuggets are looking at many players, but “focus on LaVine in recent discussions is significant.”
The goal is to get another scorer on the team. Others mentioned in the article were Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, and Washington’s Jordan Poole. The message is clear. The Denver Nuggets do not believe they have enough scoring on the floor and want to maximize the season Jokic is having. Jokic is averaging 30.9 points, 13.3 rebounds, 9.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, making his case for a fourth MVP trophy. What would it take to get LaVine on the team?
Pieces For A Trade
Any trade the Denver Nuggets make for a big-name player will have to include Michael Porter Jr. Part of this is for salary reasons, but teams also want a significant piece in return. Porter Jr. has shown flashes but hasn’t improved like the Nuggets thought he would. Coming out of college, he was highly regarded, but a back injury caused him to fall in the draft. Porter Jr. has been a solid role player, but many hoped he would turn into an all-star caliber player.
Outside of Porter Jr., the Denver Nuggets have plenty of young players as well as draft picks. Outside of a few players, nothing is off-limits. They would love to win another championship with Jokic in his prime. We’ve seen teams go all-in before, and Denver is in a perfect position to do it. Would LaVine be a good fit?
A Good Fit?
With how Zach LaVine is playing right now, he would be a perfect fit for this team. The Nuggets would benefit from his shooting and playmaking, an underrated part of his game. Part of the issue for the team right now is there is little playmaking outside of Jokic. Teams can focus on shutting him down, and there is no one else to create with the basketball. LaVine would be another player who could create his own shot and initiate the offense.
The Denver Nuggets need to do something with their roster. They haven’t been able to keep key rotation players throughout the years, and this has thinned their rotation. If the team is serious about making another run, they need to make a big splash at the deadline. Even if it isn’t Zach LaVine, the report indicates the Nuggets will be aggressive in the trade market. The NBA trade deadline is always exciting, and this year will be no different.
