Denver Nuggets: Ranking player trade-ability as deadline approaches

The Denver Nuggets have historically planted their feet at the trade deadline in the Tim Connelly era. It appears 2020 is the cycle-breaker…but to what extent?

As the Denver Nuggets approach the February 6th trade deadline, their motives are met with a flurry of predictions. Will they stand pat as usual, or reach for higher heights and land an impact player?

A partial answer is in, as Denver finally wound up and kicked some weight off the end of their long bench, clearing room for Michael Porter Jr. to play heavier minutes.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Denver has traded Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt, in turn receiving Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh, Gerald Green, Keita Bates-Diop, and a first-round draft pick (via Houston Rockets) as part of a significant four-team exchange also involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks.

The first-rounder is nice, but the player package is strange, seemingly incongruent with any sort of need whatsoever. This points to the very real possibility there’s more dealing in the works between now and Thursday.

Perhaps a blockbuster, championship-piece acquiring mega-deal – like a move for Jrue Holiday – will finally bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to the Mile High City, silencing the naysayers and allowing for 12 months of peace and quiet devoid of the usual swirling questions?

The Nuggets are contenders, after all. Buyers at the deadline, even more so after last night’s move.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

And the current squad is very good. But it seems hard-pressed that Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, a ripe green Michael Porter Jr., and Paul Millsap (who’s nearly old enough to be his father) tackle the LA Clippers or the Los Angeles Lakers in a seven-game playoff series. Another piece is needed.

And then again, the following are phrases that ring throughout the Pepsi Center: Don’t skip steps, Continuity, Togetherness, Teamwork. 

Nuggets’ president of basketball operations Tim Connelly knows most of these guys’ families. Who trades away a favorite dinner guest? Yet…he’s already made an uncharacteristic move…something more has got to be brewing.

As the Denver Nuggets ponder these potential scenarios – from a wait-and-see approach after the current trade, to the all-chips-in-the-middle, guns a’ blazing heave at a championship – we’ll examine the melee of grace or judgement that is the modern-day trade deadline from a more individualistic level.

Check out the trade-ability surrounding the following players, following the aftermath of Tuesday night’s blockbuster four-team deal.

Jamal Murray: Low

As Denver’s talented second scorer, Murray occasionally plays “hero ball” next to Nikola Jokic, the man who’s actively debunking the very concept across the NBA. And Murray’s max extension sometimes screams “Keep dribbling, Jamal,” a bit too aggressively.

Nonetheless, he’s one hell of a pick-and-roll player, and already has the clutch tenacity many coaches only hope their superstar attains (he topped 30 points twice in last year’s Western Conference Semifinals).

Murray’s got a bright future in Denver, and only an extreme needle-mover could pry him from their hands. Many believe he, Jokic and this next man up are the NBA’s Big Three of the future.

Michael Porter Jr: Also low

A couple months earlier, this section would’ve been different.

But now the Denver Nuggets have seen just how great their rising star can be, and are fully aware that their rising star’s snub from the NBA’s Rising Stars roster doesn’t make him any less of a rising star.

From his silky smooth shot (43.2 percent from deep), to his unadvertised knack for boarding (8+ rebounds in eight of the past nine contests), MPJ is quickly creating distance from his massive slide down the draft board in 2018.

Now Denver wants to fully unwrap this gift it’s been given.

Gary Harris: Mid-to-high

This one may surprise some fans and is sure to hurt many more, as Garris has long been a fixture in Denver’s starting lineup. He’s shared in many of the ups…but his value to the team has been rightfully questioned in recent days.

Once a promising 3-and-D player, Harris provides neither facet consistently these days, as his deep ball (31 percent) grinds the offense to a halt, and his defense has been exploited for an inability to contain quickness.

Combine this with his disturbing injury history, ineffectiveness as a slasher, and high-dollar contract, and it’s apparent Denver’s next leap almost certainly involves replacing Harris in the starting lineup.

Again, could a second trade involving Harris and Jrue Holiday be soon to follow?

Mason Plumlee: Medium

The squad can survive without Mason Plumlee nine of any ten given games.

The tenth comes in similar form to Sunday’s painful loss to the Detriot Pistons, where Andre Drummond roughly resembled Wilt Chamberlin amongst third-graders whenever Jokic was off the floor.

Plumlee’s contract is trade-friendly, but how friendly is a first-round playoff exit to a team with a humongous backup big? This could be risky, but watch for Mason Plumlee as another potential departee.