NBA Power Rankings: Impact of the 2015 Trade Deadline

Feb 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) looks on before the game against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 23, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Pepsi Center. The Nets won 110-82. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Pepsi Center. The Nets won 110-82. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

26. Denver Nuggets

Previous: No. 24

Record: 20-36

Last Week: 0-3

Key Acquisitions: Will Barton, G/F; Joffrey Lauvergne, PF/C

The Denver Nuggets have been one of the most polarizing teams in the NBA. They’ve gone on multiple five-game winning streaks and have lost at least six straight games on two separate occasions.

Point in case.

At the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline, the Nuggets did a bit of addition via subtraction. They got rid of JaVale McGee’s contract and dealt Arron Afflalo away, thus creating a more flexible rotation.

With McGee out of the picture, the Nuggets finally signed second-round draft pick Joffrey Lauvergne.

Lauvergne’s first two games: eight points and two blocks in 18 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and nine rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes played versus the Brooklyn Nets.

Denver has committed to center Jusuf Nurkic and appears to be behind Wilson Chandler along the perimeter. Afflalo and McGee aren’t bad players, but the Nuggets were one of the rare teams with too much depth.

If nothing else, they can be excited about Will Barton’s arrival. He scored 15 points in 21 minutes in just his second game in Denver.

Next: Massive Defensive Improvements