The Denver Nuggets are coming off of one of their best seasons in franchise history. They beat the Clippers in the second round of the playoffs and made a deep run in the postseason. Moving forward, the team is still relatively young and has room to grow. Still, they may also want to capitalize on their recent success and make a trade to win-now.
On the daily Locked On Nuggets Podcast, host Matt Moore is joined by Mike Singer (Denver Post) to discuss the Nuggets offseason plans and why trading for Jrue Holiday would make them instant title contenders.
Matt Moore: The Nuggets are very hesitant to overpay in a trade. That's been Tim Connelly's kind of ethos. If we look at the whole Kevin Love situation, though all the rest of the options… They can afford to be more patient and considerate… That's why I always kind of lean towards the status quo. I have to see them actually pull the trigger on a move that costs them a lot, but they think the upgrade is worth it.
Mike Singer: All right, let's just say his name, Jrue Holiday
Matt Moore: Let's go. Let's go, Jrue Holiday.
Mike Signer: We don't need to beat around the bush. So to me, I think that there are a few obvious suitors. I think Brooklyn is an obvious suitor. I think Miami is an obvious suitor. I think the Nuggets can get into the conversation with Jrue Holiday. To me, I kind of disagree with you, I think they do have some movable pieces and intriguing pieces. Gary Harris is not intriguing, but he's still relatively good, very well used just kind of a change of scenery. I think Gary Harris, for salary matching purposes as a framework of that deal is integral in moving and trading for Holiday. Then I think you would probably need to include Bol Bol, an intriguing prospect who showed flashes in the bubble. Then I think you would need to include this year's number 22 pick. Then to me, I've been kicking this around a lot…
The swing piece to me is Monte Morris. If the Nuggets were willing to trade and put Monte Morris, arguably the best backup point guard in the NBA and a conceivable starter in the NBA into that deal, you immediately replace Holiday. You give him a young guy who still has high upside who's got a lot of value, then I think that you have put a ton of chips into this trade. Now can the Nuggets risk doing that for only one year of guaranteed play? Jrue Holiday has a player option after this upcoming season? Can you risk that? I don't know. I don't know if you can risk it, but on the back end, you think about that starting five. That may be the most tantalizing starting five in the NBA. You think about Jamal Murray, Jrue Holiday, Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, and Nikola Jokic. That's devastating for a number of reasons.
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