Arron Afflalo Rumors: Nuggets Want First-Round Pick

By Evan Massey | Feb 8, 2015

Feb 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Denver Nuggets guard forward Arron Afflalo (10) controls the ball during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

The Denver Nuggets are searching for a first-round draft pick in any trade that includes Arron Afflalo.

Arron Afflalo has been on the NBA trade market for quite some time, but with the deadline under two weeks away the rumors are beginning to speed up. The latest report from Basketball Insiders suggests that the Denver Nuggets are searching for a first-round pick from any team that wants to acquire Afflalo.

Denver acquired Afflalo prior to the start of the season from the Orlando Magic, and he simply hasn’t worked out like the Nuggets were hoping he would.

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There have been flashes where he has looked like the legitimate scorer that they needed him to be, but there are other games where he has completely disappeared. The Nuggets are looking to make some trades ahead of the February 19th trading deadline, and Afflalo is one of their most attractive options. Whether or not teams will be willing to give up a first-round pick is another question.

Afflalo has averaged 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game so far this season in 51 games. Those numbers aren’t shabby at all, but there are plenty of teams that won’t view them as being worthy of a first-round pick.

If the Nuggets are going to get that first-round pick from any team, it will be a team that needs one more piece to make them legitimate playoff or championship contenders. Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets are all teams that could use a player with Afflalo’s skill-set. That being said, the Bucks, Heat, and Hornets especially would like to hang onto their draft picks as well.

At 29 years of age, Afflalo still has a few very good years of basketball left in him. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, which is another risk for teams that decide they would be willing to give up a pick.

This years NBA trading deadline is going to be extremely busy, with plenty of teams selling players and plenty more needing to acquire another piece or two. Afflalo’s name is going to be one of the hottest on the market, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Nuggets find a deal before the deadline.

That being said, they are asking for a very steep price. It is going to be interesting to see which teams remain interested in acquiring Afflalo if this report is indeed true.

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