NBA Trade Grades: Nuggets Get Roy Hibbert From Bucks

Jan 10, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Roy Hibbert (55, right) and Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) speak during a timeout against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Roy Hibbert (55, right) and Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) speak during a timeout against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Grades
Mar 2, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) takes a shot against Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert (17) in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

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.

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