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NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Trade deadline recap

By Corey Rausch

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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NBA trade deadline (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
NBA trade deadline (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

73. . 27-18. Previous: 7th. Denver Nuggets. 8. team

Last Week: Lost to New Orleans Pelicans 113-108, Beat Orlando Magic 110-99, Lost to Toronto Raptors 135-111, Beat New Orleans Pelicans 113-108

This Week: 3/28 vs. Atlanta Hawks, 3/30 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 4/1 at LA Clippers

At the trade deadline, the Denver Nuggets tasted blood in the water. They saw the injuries to the Los Angeles Lakers and the inconsistencies of the Portland Trail Blazers, LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. The Phoenix Suns are inexperienced and the Nuggets like the matchup against the Utah Jazz. With that in mind, they took the swing to bolster their roster for the future.

JaVale McGee was the first move and while it may not be flashy it was necessary. The Nuggets have lacked decent rim protection off the bench all season and is a strict upgrade over Isaiah Hartenstein (who was traded) and Zeke Nnaji. Then came the Aaron Gordon trade.

Gordon came to the Nuggets in exchange for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and a future first-round pick. Harris has struggled in recent years due to injury but the reactions of his teammates upon finding out about his departure was telling. He was a valued member of the locker room and will be sorely missed. Hampton has shown flashes of the potential that had him at the top of his class in high school and was a smart flyer for the Matic to take.

All that being said, Gordon truly raises the ceiling of the Nuggets back to the top of the Western Conference. They have missed the presence of Jerami Grant since he departed in free agency and Gordon is a perfect replacement. He is the only player on the roster capable of guarding one through four, essential for competing against the best of the conference. Given the declining nature of his contract, this was a no-brainer.