Denver Nuggets
As for the Nuggets, it may seem curious that they added a washed up center after just trading for Mason Plumlee less than two weeks ago, but Hibbert provides them with frontcourt insurance and depth as the playoffs creep closer.
Though Denver currently holds the eighth playoff spot in the West, the New Orleans Pelicans are only 2.5 games back in the standings. After adding DeMarcus Cousins to a frontcourt that already had Anthony Davis, the Nuggets were wise to add another seven-footer to the equation just in case.
Though Hibbert deal is for depth & gets the #Nuggets closer to salary floor, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him on court in the NO games
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) February 23, 2017
Hibbert is only averaging a career-low 5.2 points and 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game this season, but he could be useful in a pinch and he’s not much of a risk since his contract expires at the end of the season.
Acquiring Hibbert also gets Denver closer to the salary floor and saves them $3.6 million. For the price of a second round pick that’s unlikely to convey anyway, that’s a decent deal.
Hibbert trade is about savings. Bucks save $1.4M and likely won’t see the pick. Nuggets save $3.6M and move to within $2.1M of salary floor.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) February 23, 2017
This isn’t the sexiest deal that came through the pipeline in the final hour of the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline, but it’ll do.
Next: 2017 NBA Trade Deadline: Grades For All 30 Teams
Now the question is whether Hibbert, Plumlee and Nikola Jokic are ready to hold their own in head-to-head matchups with New Orleans’ formidable frontcourt duo. Their playoff lives could very well depend on it.
Grade: B