Suffice it to say that the Denver Nuggets aren’t where they want to be nearly a third of the way through 2024-25. At 14-10, the Nuggets are fifth in the West, constantly flickering between dominance and futility. A major talking point has been their ability to generate offense when Nikola Jokic is on the bench. However, their problems on offense go beyond finding a way to sustain life without a three-time MVP.
As a result, the Nuggets “are canvassing the league in pursuit of a player who can offer significant help offensively,” per The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Tony Jones.
Nuggets’ Trade Interest In Bulls Star Zach LaVine ‘Significant’
“… The Nuggets have either expressed interest in, or have had preliminary trade discussions on the following players: Chicago’s Zach Lavine, Washington’s Jordan Poole, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas.”
Per Amick and Jones, “the focus on LaVine in recent discussions is significant…”
Michael Porter Jr. On The Move?
Trading for Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine is relatively simple for Denver from a logistical perspective as a first apron team.
Still, with LaVine making $43 million this season, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth has to make a tough call. The three highest-paid players on the team this season are Jokic ($51.4 million), Jamal Murray ($36 million), and Michael Porter Jr. ($35.8 million) and they’re not trading their best player.
With that being said, Porter is likely the odd man out in Denver. Recently, NBA insiders have reported that the Nuggets would be hard-pressed to strike gold without including Porter in a deal. As Porter was part of Denver’s potential trade package for Paul George, they seem to already be well aware of that.
From the Bulls’ standpoint, adding Porter could solve their longstanding issues at power forward. His shooting prowess should also allow him to mesh well with rookie Matas Buzelis, who has flashed starter potential. With Bulls head coach Billy Donovan buying into the three-ball craze, it makes it even more likely that the marksman would be a target.
If the Nuggets are indeed motivated to get a deal done, moving Porter and the seldom-used Zeke Nnaji might be all it takes.
Why Zach LaVine?
If Porter is traded, Denver would likely continue to start Christian Braun, but at small forward. This allows them to keep arguably their best wing defender in the first unit, which takes pressure off of LaVine. The question is why trade Porter for LaVine?
Both are among the league’s best jump shooters. They’re offensive-minded players who are attempting to make impacts in multiple areas but are best suited to score. LaVine’s health is less of a concern but he’s three years older. When it comes down to it there’s even overlap for the Nuggets to feel like they didn’t lose much if anything in the trade. Yet, there might be too many redundancies for the move to make sense.
While only time will tell, LaVine could be a player they see helping them keep their momentum when Jokic rests. Based on Murray’s struggles, Denver could also want to add another seasoned shot-creator and playmaker in the backcourt. Russell Westbrook is a player they may have considered in this role. However, his struggles from beyond the arc are a constant threat to the efficacy of their offensive scheme.
In either case, unlike Porter, LaVine is more than capable of being the primary or secondary ball-handler for long stretches. Up until this season he wasn’t known for making quick decisions with the ball in his hands. Nonetheless, his guard skills are superior to Porter’s. As a result, he may be a better fit for their needs.
