The Nuggets need to go for it this offseason. GM Tim Connelly has them in a great spot with draft picks, young talent, solid vets, and cap space.
This is the offseason where he needs to make a splash by getting a star through trade then using that star to entice a free agent to sign. This would solve the issue of only having an established star languishing on a team in his prime years waiting for the rest of the young talent to catch up.
I think Denver is in a position to force their way into the playoff conversation. Here’s how…
When I’m looking for stars I want great two way players. That sets the tone for the entire team. 100% effort on both ends. Think LeBron, Duncan, Kobe in his prime. Great pieces to build around because they do it on both ends. Anthony Davis and Karl Anthony Towns are good young examples. Young players look at that and know they have to bring it on D.
The opposite is James Harden, who is a transcendent offensive player, but in the seasons he doesn’t bring it on defense, his team crumbles.
What stars are available that play well on both ends? Jimmy Butler, 26, and Al Horford, 29. I know it sounds crazy but hear me out. Denver has enough assets to get these two.
Trade For Jimmy Butler
Rumors continue to swirl around the Bulls and Butler. There is enough evidence to suggest he’s available. He’s a fantastic wing, who had a down shooting year. And, it seems like neither side is content. He’s unhappy with his coach, Fred Hoiberg, and misses former coach, Tom Thibodeau. Thibs, like Mike Malone, had structure, tenacity, and a defensive focus. The perfect atmosphere for Jimmy to thrive.
Make Chicago an offer they can’t refuse. Jimmy Butler ($16.4 million) for Danilo Gallinari ($15.5 million) , Jusef Nurkic ($1.9 million), and the 15 and 18 picks in this year’s draft. That’s a huge package for a guy coming off a down year, who couldn’t drag his team into the playoffs. But, if Denver doesn’t overpay, Boston will. This is the type of package Chicago was looking for at the trade deadline in February.
Gallo is a versatile wing that can score and defend. Chicago needs a more consistent Nikola Mirotic.
Nurkic has shown the toughness, vision, size, and quick feet to anchor a defense. After missing the playoffs, Chicago needs to hit the reset button. Both Pau Gasol (player option) and free agent Joakim Noah are probably gone (didn’t take that bench demotion well). So, the Bulls will need someone at center to pair with Power forwards Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis.
They also get two mid-first round draft picks to reload with younger talent.
Butler’s contract runs through ‘18-’19 at a reasonable number. This is the hardworking two-way building block that attracts Horford.
Don’t tell Chicago this but I’m ready to move on from Gallo and Nurkic, and we don’t need five new rookies added to the roster (three firsts and two seconds this year).
I love Gallo but he is, without a doubt, injury prone. He’s hurt every year. Since playing 81 games in his second NBA season, Danilo has averaged 59 games a season.
Nurkic is a head case. He has oodles of talent and is massive inside presence, but I have this weird feeling that he’s never going to get his shit together to be a consistent impact player.
Sign and Trade For Al Horford
With Jimmy Butler on board now do a sign and trade with Atlanta for Horford. Rumor has it Atlanta is ready to break up the team. Getting swept by the Cavs in the second round probably sealed it.
As an unrestricted free agent Horford can leave for nothing. He might see Denver as a team on the rise with the improving young talent and the addition of Butler. And, with Jokic cementing his place as Denver’s center of the future, Horford can slot in at his more natural power forward position.
Horford signs a 5 year, $100 million contract (starts at $18 million/year with $1 million increases each year) with Atlanta. The Hawks trade him to Denver for Kenneth Faried ($12.1 million), Will Barton ($3.7 million), and Gary Harris ($1.7 million). For a team about to lose Horford and perhaps Kent Bazemore, this haul reloads the rotation. Each of those players can slot in for starting minutes or come off the bench providing depth at SG, SF, and PF.
I’m ready to part with Faried. He has value but he’s not a consistent enough defender to be a cornerstone, and he's very limited offensively. He’ll be a great backup to Millsap.
I think Barton had a heck of a year, but the first half of the season might have been peak Thrill. That’s fine, and he’s a valuable trade chip because of it, but I’m not expecting to see much more improvement.
I hate losing Harris. He’s developing into a terrific two-way shooting guard, but with Butler and our 7th pick, Buddy Hield, on board he becomes redundant. He’ll be great in Atlanta.
Hield can back up Butler to pick up the bench scoring slack left by dearly departed Barton. Plus, at 6’7" you can slide Butler to SF and play him with Hield.
With Chandler starting at small forward (I know that he is injury prone too) Denver can switch 1 through 4 like all good modern-day defensive teams. With Mudiay and Jokic natural improvements and a huge influx of talent with Butler, Chandler, and Horford, the offense improves exponentially.
The bench takes a hit, but Hield, with four years of college experience, will be more ready to contribute.
Connelly will sign most of our free agents, and work his magic with the second round picks to fill out the end of the bench. The opening night roster looks like this ...
Roster
- PG: Emmanuel Mudiay/Jameer Nelson/Nikola Radicevic
- SG: Jimmy Butler/Buddy Hield/Axel Toupane
- SF: Wilson Chandler/JaKarr Sampson
- PF: Al Horford/Darrell Arthur
- C: Nikola Jokic/Joffrey Lauvergne
