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NBA Trade Deadline: Teams in Dire Need of a Trade

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) talks with head coach Doc Rivers during the second quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) talks with head coach Doc Rivers during the second quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 26, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) and Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) help Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) off the floor during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) and Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) help Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) off the floor during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets

Record: 19-29

Available for Trade: Darrell Arthur, PF; Wilson Chandler, SF; Danilo Gallinari, SF; J.J. Hickson, C; JaVale McGee, C

If The Value’s Right: Arron Afflalo, SG; Kenneth Faried, PF; Gary Harris, SG; Ty Lawson, PG

Untouchables: Jusuf Nurkic

Forget a post-All-Star Break surge, in the mold of the 2013-14 Memphis Grizzlies. Forget a star-caliber turnaround, a la Kenneth Faried in 2013-14, and forget the long-overdue realization that this team has more upside than it’s shown.

It’s time to blow the Denver Nuggets up. Right now.

Denver is currently 19-29, and it’s played worse than its record shows. Despite having as much depth as any team in the NBA, it’s routinely producing woeful performances against teams that it has the ability to compete with.

In a recent outing, Denver fell 99-69 to the Memphis Grizzlies in a game in which many questioned their effort. The many include those within the organization.

Head coach Brian Shaw had the following to say about his team after the game.

He continued with a poignant thought:

To some extent, that’s the sign of someone who’s lost his locker room. To another, it’s the sign of someone who’s coaching a roster that just isn’t meshing as they were expected to.

Regardless of the reason, it simply isn’t working. With the exception of 20-year-old center Jusuf Nurkic, Denver should get all it can for its assets.

The likes of Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, J.J. Hickson and JaVale McGee not only have name value, but perform at a high level. All could net a noteworthy return.

From there, it comes down to whether or not Denver wants to part ways with Arron Afflalo, Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson—arguably its three best players. Faried and Lawson are locked up for the long-term, while Afflalo has a player option for 2015-16.

Some combination of Chandler, Gallinari, Hickson and McGee need to go; it may not be a terrible idea for some of the others to follow.

Next: Building Around a Star, Part I