3 Denver Nuggets who will be eligible to be traded on Dec. 15

The Denver Nuggets have faced injury challenges early in the season but remain among the top teams in the Western Conference, largely due to Nikola Jokic’s presence on the team. Concerns arose about the strength of Denver’s bench following the departure of players like Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in the offseason, and these worries have proven valid. While the Nuggets boast one of the league’s strongest starting lineups, their second unit has encountered difficulties.

To address this, Denver might explore the trade market for dependable role players to bolster their roster. However, barring such acquisitions, the Nuggets may not be highly active leading up to February 8. Trade talks are expected to intensify on December 15, when most players who signed new deals in the offseason become eligible for trade.

Calvin Booth, the Nuggets’ decision-maker, has the option to include one of three players in a trade. However, the question remains whether it would be advisable to do so.

3 Denver Nuggets who will be eligible to be traded on Dec. 15

1. Reggie Jackson

This season, the hometown boy has had a strong start. Reggie Jackson leads the team with 13.6 points per game and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 42.2% from three. When Jamal Murray went down with a hamstring injury and was out for a month, Jackson stepped in to save the day.

 

 

He wasn’t a regular in Denver’s rotation when he was signed last February, but he’s stormed onto the scene this season (subscription required).

The Denver Nuggets shouldn’t trade Reggie Jackson

Jackson has the least likelihood of getting traded of the three players on this list. Even when Murray is healthy, he’s a valuable role player to have on the bench. When Murray is out, Jackon steps in as the starting point guard. He was Denver’s Sixth Man.

Jackson gets signed to a two-year, $10.3 million contract with a player option for 2024-25. Calvin Booth and the Nuggets are already getting a good deal on that contract. Jackson isn’t going anywhere.

2. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan was among the first players to sign a free agent contract in 2022, and Denver did not hesitate to re-sign him this summer. The 35-year-old has settled in Colorado.

Jordan is averaging 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds across seven games in 2023-24, up from 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds last season. On Nov. 27, he looked like DeAndre Jordan, scoring 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against the Clippers.

Jordan isn’t a player who will see consistent minutes in the rotation, barring an injury, but it doesn’t mean the Nuggets will try to move him.

The Denver Nuggets most likely won’t trade DeAndre Jordan

Jordan’s career was revitalized when he signed with the Denver Nuggets. The front office understood who they were getting, and he outperformed their expectations; otherwise, he would not have been re-signed.

He has flaws (that’s what comes with being in the NBA since 2008), but he’s there to fill in when Nikola Jokic is sidelined or needs a break. Zeke Nnaji hasn’t performed as expected, thus Jordan should remain in Denver. Jordan would have to authorize any trade request made by the Nuggets.

3. Justin Holiday

Justin Holiday joined the Nuggets on a one-year, $3.2 million deal in free agency, making him eligible for trade this week.

In the 12 games he’s played (four of which he started), Holiday has maintained an average of 4.8 points per game, showcasing solid shooting percentages of 57.9% from the field and an impressive 51.9% from three-point range. These statistics align with his previous seasons, where he hasn’t exceeded an average of 4.5 points per game over the past two years.

At 34 years old, Holiday has proven to be a valuable addition to the Denver roster, stepping up as a starter when required. Notably, in the Nuggets’ victory against the Suns on December 1, he recorded a season-high 15 points, shooting efficiently at 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, all within 25 minutes of play.

Given his consistent contributions and flexibility in meeting team needs, there seems to be no urgent reason for Denver to explore trading Holiday. Additionally, his extensive experience since entering the league in 2012 makes him a valuable veteran presence in a locker room predominantly composed of younger players.