Nuggets rumors: Denver's trade plans after passing on James Harden

The Nuggets are expected to be "tempted" to trade Michael Porter Jr. in a trade by the deadline after passing on James Harden, but they want to see more.

According to Sam Amick in The Athletic, when the Denver Nuggets decided to sit out the James Harden lottery a certain expectation was set—the team, especially the trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter, Jr. must take a step forward building on the momentum of their 2020 Western Conference Finals appearance.

Per Amick:

Until Porter Jr. finds a way to meet the lofty expectations they’ve placed upon him consistently, the temptation will always be there for the Nuggets to make a move for a more proven commodity. The pursuit of players like Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine or Aaron Gordon could unfold down the line if they become available, though rival executives don’t expect them to be available before this deadline. Sources say, however, that the Nuggets’ focus at the moment is on improving this group as it’s currently constructed.

With the team's struggles, there is a chance that the Nuggets go after Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, or Aaron Gordon in a package that involves Porter Jr., although executives around the league believe the aforementioned players will not be available before the trade deadline.

Per reports, Denver is putting their energy and resources into developing the current team. Most of the team is off to a rough start, but star big man Jokic is putting up MVP-like numbers. Murray has cooled off significantly from his hot shooting in the Orlando bubble. The team hopes that this is just a slump for Murray and he will regain his old form. Murray has been candid about his mental struggles in light of this COVID-19 affected season. Further, he has been playing through various injuries.

It seems the bigger concern has been Porter Jr. The Nuggets' second-year forward outings have been inconsistent and he has also missed several games due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. After this season, Porter will have two years left in his contract and there is a possibility that he demands a trade. Of course, only the elite have this type of leverage. One encouraging sign with Porter is his good reception to Jokic's brand of leadership.