The reigning champs, the Denver Nuggets, look stronger than ever. They even had a higher winning percentage and net rating than their championship-winning season last year.
While the Nuggets remain among the league’s elite, they acknowledge the necessity for personnel changes to improve their prospects of making another long playoff run. We look at some players the Nuggets might consider trading before the trade deadline, including Reggie Jackson, Zeke Nnaji, and Justin Holiday.
Undoubtedly, the Nuggets have performed at a championship level this season. They currently have a 32-15 record as we approach the end of January. However, they are trailing the developing forces of Oklahoma City and Minnesota in the Western Conference standings.
Denver features perhaps the greatest starting lineup in the league, highlighted by Nikola Jokić’s unequaled brilliance. However, concerns remain about roster depth, particularly at the center position.
Jokić’s contribution to the team’s success is evident. When he plays, the Nuggets outscore their opponents by 325 points or more. That compares to a 122-point disadvantage during his absence. Yes, no backup center can single-handedly reverse this trend. However, getting an improvement over DeAndre Jordan or Zeke Nnaji could help the team’s vulnerabilities.
Following a similar strategy as last year’s signing of Thomas Bryant, the Nuggets should look for another talented big man.
Again, despite their impressive performance, the Nuggets have faults that warrant slight improvements. For example, prospective bench additions at center (as previously said) or point guard are worth considering.
However, we should look at the Nuggets’ present assets. In terms of draft picks, they hold first-round picks in even-numbered years until 2030 and second-round picks until 2030, except in 2027. As a result, they have a modest but useful collection of assets to ease trade discussions.
Here, we’ll look at the players the Denver Nuggets should trade at the 2024 NBA trade deadline to enhance their chances this season.
Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson’s time with the Nuggets has been defined by uneven results and difficulties adjusting to the team’s system. This is especially true considering the demands of the backup point guard position. Despite inconsistencies in his shooting and defensive liabilities, Jackson has proven his worth. He made a significant contribution to successful lineups during Jamal Murray’s absence. However, his $5 million salary may be used as a trade asset to fund more significant purchases. On the other hand, keeping him beside a veteran combo guard remains a viable option. This would give Coach Michael Malone more lineup arrangement options.
Zeke Nnaji
As previously said, the backup center position remains a priority for future roster upgrades for the Nuggets. Remember that DeAndre Jordan’s presence has overshadowed Zeke Nnaji. Since signing his extension, the latter has performed below expectations. Sure, the likelihood of a backup center influencing a playoff series remains slim. However, given previous postseason experiences, exploring improvements in this area is prudent. Nnaji’s lackluster performance makes him a potential trade option, maybe due to a mismatch in his role within the team’s dynamics.
Justin Holliday
Questions remain about the Nuggets’ forward depth and Malone’s reliance on specific players in postseason rotations. The lack of flexible players like Bruce Brown and Jeff Green from last season’s squad emphasizes the importance of consistent postseason rotation forwards. Nonetheless, Peyton Watson’s emergence indicates a shift in trust dynamics. Justin Holiday’s status is questionable. Malone’s evolving trust in multiple players, including Jackson and Christian Braun, points to a fluid position heading up to the trade deadline. Holiday appears as the most tradeable possibility here.
The Nuggets could consider trading Mason Plumlee and Jalen Smith.
Plumlee’s performance in Denver hasn’t been as good as his prior tenure with the organization, but he’s still a viable trade target. Plumlee’s absence due to injury coincided with the Clippers’ comeback. They used Ivica Zubac and Daniel Theis in the frontcourt. Given Plumlee’s $5 million salary, another player may be a viable trade target. That’s Jalen Smith, the former tenth overall pick. He is currently exhibiting consistent performance with the Indiana Pacers.
The Denver Nuggets are at a critical point as the NBA trade deadline approaches in 2024. They have a strong roster, captained by the legendary Nikola Jokić. Nonetheless, deliberate improvements are required to strengthen their depth and address remaining issues. This is especially true for the backup positions. Reggie Jackson, Zeke Nnaji, and Justin Holiday have emerged as prospective trade candidates. Each offers unique opportunity to improve the team’s playoff readiness.
With careful consideration of both short-term and long-term goals, the Nuggets are set to make deliberate decisions that could shape their postseason prospects. As the trade deadline approaches, the Nuggets’ front office faces the difficult issue of combining current requirements with the overall goal of continued championship contention.
