The NBA season is less than a month away, and training camps are here to determine the final roster battles. This means some teams still have time to make moves that can turn them into real contenders. The Denver Nuggets are one of those teams that might still need a few more pieces to finally make it to the NBA Finals.
In 2021-22, despite back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets were no match for the eventual champions Golden State Warriors. Denver lost 4-1 in the first round. After a few moves, the team returns with hopes for a better post-season campaign. They also hope to get Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray back this season. This could mean that some players could be on the move.
That being said, here are two potential trade candidates for the Nuggets entering 2022-23 NBA training camp.
Ich Smith
NBA journeyman Ish Smith will break the record for most teams played for a single player with 13 if he appears at least once for Denver. However, this indicates that Smith has been an expendable piece for most of his career.
With 12 NBA seasons under his belt, the goaltender is averaging 7.6 points on 43-33-68 shots. He’s also adding 3.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds per night. During his career, he was mainly a playmaker and defender off the bench.
The bottom line is that in the deal involving Smith, Denver traded Monté Morris and Will Barton. Both are known for their scoring abilities, which is perhaps Smith’s weakest trait. Although they got Kentavious Caldwell-Pope back, they lost a lot of their backcourt to Morris.
Because of this, if the Nuggets want more points off their bench, they might consider moving away from Smith. He’s on an expiring deal worth just $4.73 million, so it wouldn’t be a big deal to include in a trade. He certainly won’t be the centerpiece, but his salary can be used to match whatever Denver gets back.
Aaron Gordon
After being traded by the Orlando Magic, Aaron Gordon finally seems to find his place in the league. He started in every game he played for the Nuggets. His best season was 2021-22, where he averaged 15.0 points and 5.9 rebounds. He also had career bests in field goals (52.0%) and free throws (74.3%).
Gordon is also now a reliable part of Denver’s defensive scheme. He’s able to hold multiple positions, which could come in handy if the Nuggets play short ball every time Jokić rests.
The problem is, if the team decides to make a massive trade and acquire another All-star or at least a rookie-caliber player, Gordon is very likely to be involved. After Jokić, Murray and Porter Jr., the power forward had the team’s fourth highest salary. The trio is likely part of the Nuggets’ future, so Gordon would likely be the big-money player in the trade.
Earning nearly $20 million, his salary is similar to what OG Anunoby earns in Toronto. The Raptor forward has been embroiled in trade rumors for the past year, and every time Toronto is in on it, his name comes up.
All things considered, Gordon is the Nuggets’ best “available piece”. He is young and can produce very well on the pitch. However, if Denver really wants an upgrade, it’s hard to let him out of the deal. Thus, his age, contract and immediate franchise goals make Gordon a potential trade candidate in Denver.