Denver Nuggets trade Emmanuel Mudiay, pick up Devin Harris
The Denver Nuggets shipped off Emmanuel Mudiay on trade deadline day, getting veteran point guard Devin Harris as part of a three-way deal.
The Denver Nuggets have desperately needed a veteran point guard since the moment they bought out Jameer Nelson. Jamal Murray has capably filled in as the starting point guard. However, he is far more of a shooting guard/combo guard than a true point guard.
Emmanuel Mudiay has fallen well short of expectations after being taken with the seventh overall pick in 2015. His minutes had steadily declined since his rough rookie season, and he had fallen completely out of the rotation multiple times.
The Nuggets finally cut ties with Mudiay at the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline, shipping him to the New York Knicks as part of a three-way deal. In return, they received Devin Harris from the Dallas Mavericks.
The Nuggets also receive New York’s 2018 second round pick (via the Los Angeles Clippers), while the Mavs will receive Denver’s second round pick (via the Portland Trail Blazers) this year, per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski. While some might declare that the Nuggets gave up on Mudiay too early, the team at least managed to salvage something from what looked like a wasted pick.
Farewell, Emmanuel Mudiay
Emmanuel Mudiay showed flashes of brilliance during his time with the Denver Nuggets. His spectacular athleticism and occasional pinpoint passes were tantalizing enough for people to hold out hope.
More from Denver Nuggets
- This overlooked skill proves that Nikola Jokic is underrated defensively
- Why the loss of impact players won’t damage Denver’s repeat title hopes
- Has Denver’s risky offseason hurt their repeat title hopes?
- The Nuggets’ sneaky great draft bolsters their championship roster
- Despite a short series, the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat saved the NBA
Look a little deeper, however, and the issues with Mudiay look almost insurmountable. He started 66 of 68 games his rookie year and shot 36.4 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from 3-point range. He has done little to improve since then as his role has steadily decreased.
Mudiay’s career 37.5 percent shooting mark is deeply concerning, and his 3-point shooting this season has taken a nosedive since his hot streak of shooting 12-for-26 in December. He is also averaging 4.3 assists per game for his career, but they come with 2.5 turnovers per game — an unacceptable ratio for any pure point guard, but especially one who shoots so poorly. His defense is not much better. He is currently dead last among point guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, per ESPN.
Emmanuel Mudiay could still turn his career around in New York. After all, young point guards usually take longer to develop than prospects at other positions and Mudiay is still only 21.
However, the Denver Nuggets have desperately needed a backup point guard all season. Mudiay had every chance to earn that job after flunking out as a starting point guard. His failure to win even a backup role for a team that really needed him speaks poorly of his future prospects.
Hello, Devin Harris
Devin Harris was not exactly a hot commodity at the trade deadline. While Harris made an All-Star team with the New Jersey Nets during the 2008-09 season, he has started four games since the 2013-14 season.
Although Harris might not see his jerseys flying off the racks in Denver, he is a capable player at a position of need for the Nuggets. He can run a functional pick-and-roll, play off the ball and will not take dumb shots or take his team out of its flow offensively.
Furthermore, he is a solid scorer near the basket who is shooting 60.6 percent in the restricted area, per NBA.com — well above average for a guard. Nikola Jokic will be able to take full advantage of Harris’ cutting ability for plenty of easy baskets. Harris is also a solid defender. He ranks 23rd among the 99 qualifying point guards this year in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, and can guard bigger players in a pinch.
Next: Biggest winners and losers of the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline
The Denver Nuggets have missed Jameer Nelson’s steady hand all season long. They managed to turn their frustrating former lottery pick into a similar player to Nelson by getting Devin Harris. With the team teetering on the brink of slipping out of the playoff race, the Nuggets managed to shore up a key weak point before the stretch run.