4 Nuggets who are untradeable, 2 they can afford to let go
The Nuggets are all-in on winning another championship, but who could they trade?
The Denver Nuggets are struggling after an 8-1 start to the season. Jamal Murray missed time with an injury, Nikola Jokic was fined, and the team has won just six of their last 13 games. The defending champions are still among the title favorites, but they may need to upgrade their roster before the deadline to make another title run.
Trade season is about to heat up. Most players who signed in the offseason become eligible to be moved on Dec. 15, which will spark the rumors. The Nuggets were recently linked to a sharpshooting wing and will explore the market before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
If Denver makes a trade, who could go out to match the salary? The Nuggets have multiple players locked in, but a few who could be expendable if the right deal comes along.
Cannot afford to trade: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
KCP is not the most popular player on the Nuggets or the flashiest, but he was crucial to their title run in 2023. The 6’5 wing is an outstanding defender and floor spacer. He does not command the ball or a more playing time. Caldwell-Pope is happy being a 3-and-D wing on a contender.
He has won two titles in the last four years and continues to shoot over 40 percent from 3-point range while playing stout defense. The Denver Nuggets need floor spacers and defenders around Nikola Jokic, and KCP is the perfect fit. He has a $15.4 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign, but do not be surprised to see the Nuggets try to keep him around the Joker long-term.
Denver needs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but another role player could be on the chopping block if the Nuggets decide to make a trade.
Expendable: Zeke Nnaji
Nnaji signed a four-year $32 million extension with the Nuggets in October, but he has barely played. He averages 3.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks in 10.5 minutes per game over 19 contests. The 6’9 forward has been out of the rotation in the last three contests and played just 12 total postseason minutes in their run to the championship last season.
The 22-year-old is in his fourth NBA season, and it is never positive when a young player’s minutes decrease. He averaged 17.0 in 2022, but they fell to 13.7 last season. They have dipped further this year and Nnaji will likely be out of the team’s postseason rotation entirely.
He is subject to the Poison Pill Provision if the Nuggets attempt to trade him before the Feb. 8 deadline. This does not make him untradeable because Nnaji inked a modest extension, but certainly makes the math more difficult in any deal.
The Denver Nuggets are all-in on winning a second championship with Nikola Jokic. They believe their roster has the talent to repeat and become the next dynasty. Zeke Nnaji does not appear to have a massive role, and the franchise should look to move on in hopes of maximizing the talent around the Joker.
Cannot afford to trade: Aaron Gordon
Gordon faced plenty of questions during his six-and-a-half seasons in Orlando. He had the expectations of a top-four draft pick, but the Magic made just one playoff appearance and were knocked out in the first round. The Nuggets were looking to replace Jerami Grant, but nobody knew Gordon would fit perfectly in the Mile High City.
The 6’8 forward has thrived in his role. He will play stout defense, take open shots, make a few plays, rebound, and help his team win every night. Gordon is comfortable in the Nuggets system and willing to do the dirty work to help the franchise have success.
Role buy-in is crucial to winning a championship. There can only be one leading scorer. Others have to play their part and do little things. Nuggets fans know AG will do whatever the franchise needs, which makes him untradeable.
Aaron Gordon can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025, but the Denver Nuggets will try to keep him long-term. The 28-year-old is the perfect fit next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The franchise needs Gordon to stay in title contention, and they are all-in on bringing another championship to Denver.
Cannot afford to trade: Jamal Murray
Murray may be the best player in the league that has never made an All-Star appearance. He was playing the best basketball of his career when he tore his ACL in April of 2021. It cost him a season and a half, but Murray was outstanding when he returned in 2022. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steal and helped Denver win it all.
Murray has outstanding chemistry with Jokic, and their two-man game (subscription required) is the best in the league. So far this season, the Nuggets have a 124.4 offensive rating and a 13.1 net rating with their two stars on the floor. Good luck getting a stop when the duo plays together.
The Nuggets need Jamal Murray. They were 6-1 before he was injured on Nov. 4. Denver is 7-6 in games he has missed this season, and fans haven’t seen the best version of the 26-year-old point guard yet. He is still working his way back from injury and getting his legs under him.
The Denver Nuggets will be title contenders as long as Jokic and Murray are healthy. In their last two playoff runs with Murray, the franchise won the championship and lost to the eventual champ in the conference finals. There is no questioning their success.
Expendable: Michael Porter Jr.
Porter Jr. has been a key part of the Nuggets’ success since falling to 14th in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 6’10 forward missed his rookie season with a back injury and some teams feared he would never recover. MPJ has become one of the league’s best shooters but is the one piece of the team’s core they could make available if the right trade presented itself.
Porter Jr. is locked in until 2027 and has three years and $115 million remaining on his contract after this season. It is a hefty price to pay for a number three option, who has never garnered All-Star consideration.
The Denver Nuggets are happy with their team and believe their core group will bring them a second straight championship. They are not shopping Michael Porter Jr. and want the 25-year-old on their roster for the foreseeable future. His injury history has to be a bit concerning. He has never played more than 62 games in a season, and the franchise will have to continue to manage him.
Trading MPJ is the Nuggets’ path to adding another significant salary. That won’t happen before the trade deadline but could be something the front office explores if they do not win the championship in 2024. Porter Jr. is the most expendable player in their current core, even if a trade is unlikely.
Cannot afford to trade: Nikola Jokic
No trade package will ever equal the best player in the world. The two-time MVP cemented his status by leading the Nuggets to the championship in 2023. He is an unstoppable offensive force, who continues to improve his defense. Jokic puts up unheard-of numbers and figures to be in the thick of the MVP race for the fourth straight year.
The Joker is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists per game. He is in the top eight in all three categories and has a massive lead in value over replacement player (VORP). The defending champions are still favorites to win the Western Conference and plan on making it two straight titles.
Nikola Jokic can become a free agent in 2027, but is not going anywhere. The 28-year-old is happy in Denver, and the Nuggets are committed to building a dynasty around him. Fans do not need to worry. The Joker is an all-time great and excited to keep leading this franchise.
The Denver Nuggets owe it to Jokic to maximize their roster, but will a trade worth making come along? They will struggle to match salary and make a deal, but crazier things have happened. There will be rumors, so stay tuned.
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