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The 2020 February trade deadline is just right around the corner. One of the hottest commodities in this year's market is Robert Covington. Many teams are reportedly positioning themselves in prying away the elite 3-and-D specialist from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Denver Nuggets should really consider trading for the 6-foot-7 small forward.
Though they are already having a strong 2019-20 season so far, Denver may still need a piece or two away from garnering serious consideration as title favorites. With the Nuggets sitting near the top of the standings out West, it's possible that Covington could be the one to put the Mile High City over the top.
What Covington Brings to the Nuggets
Covington is by no means is a star player in this league, but he can fit in pretty much any kind of system. What makes him a must-have asset is that he is elite in arguably the two most coveted skills in any valuable role player in 2020: defense and three-point shooting.
RoCo's main calling card in this league is his elite perimeter defense. At 6-foot-7, Covington possesses great size and length to defend bigger forwards. Likewise, he has the foot speed to keep in step with smaller guards.
As mentioned, Covington is also a very capable shooter from beyond the arc. Though not the most elite sniper out there, he is a career 36 percent shooter from deep and is shooting nearly 35 percent this season. He has also been making at least two triples a game for his career.
The Nuggets already have an elite perimeter defender at the guard spot in Gary Harris. However, at just 6-foot-5, he isn't big enough to take on the lengthier forwards and guards on the perimeter.
Likewise, Denver already has a player similar to Covington in 6-foot-9 forward Jerami Grant. However, Covington moves his feet better on the perimeter that can help them defend teams with elite fast guards, such as the Houston Rockets, the Utah Jazz, or the Portland Trail Blazers.
Denver already has a top-10 defense in the NBA, but it's possible that Covington's addition could elevate them into the top-5. Likewise, his ability to defend one through four – and even small-ball fives depending on the lineup – will give Denver some added versatility on that end of the floor.
The Nuggets can probably put together a package of Will Barton and a future pick if they want to make a move for Covington. Then again, it would be up to Minnesota if that will be enough for them to trade away one of the most valuable role players in the NBA today.
