{"id":112177,"date":"2024-12-16T02:02:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T07:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=112177"},"modified":"2024-12-16T02:02:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T07:02:28","slug":"nuggets-most-valuable-nikola-jokic-trade-chip-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/16\/nuggets-most-valuable-nikola-jokic-trade-chip-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuggets Most Valuable Non-Nikola Jokic Trade Chip Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Denver Nuggets (13-10) are 2.5 games behind the fourth-place Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference standings. However, as they\u2019re virtually in a four-way tie with the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors, they could slide from fifth- to eighth-place at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, they\u2019re ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers are just 0.5 games behind them.<\/p>\n<p>Suffice it to say, they don\u2019t have much breathing room or margin for error. As a result, the expectation is for Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth to make a move that upgrades the roster.<\/p>\n<h2>Nuggets Most Valuable Non-Nikola Jokic Trade Chip Revealed<\/h2>\n<p>The Nuggets are \u201ceager to make a move,\u201d according to NBA insider Marc Stein (h\/t Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports). However, \u201cif they don\u2019t involve (Michael Porter Jr.), the optionality there is extremely limited.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">&#8220;It&#8217;s been painted to me as eager. They are eager to make a move.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think the Nuggets definitely want to do something They know they need a shakeup move of some sort.&#8221;<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSteinLine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TheSteinLine<\/a> tells <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HarrisonWind?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@HarrisonWind<\/a> that the Nuggets could be active this trade season. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/49a5ubbjPo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/49a5ubbjPo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DNVR_Nuggets\/status\/1867705204033884461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/portemi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Porter Jr.<\/a> is averaging 18.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. He continues to be one of the league\u2019s most deadly shooters, converting 51.1 percent of his field goals and 38.3 percent of his three-pointers. With that being said, though he still <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/03\/nuggets-michael-porter-jr-reach-potential\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">has physical limitations<\/a>, his movement has become increasingly fluid. As a result, there\u2019s optimism that he has yet to reach his physical peak, which would open up even more of his game.<\/p>\n<p>As strange as it sounds, this is what separates him from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/murraja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jamal Murray<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Murray\u2019s frequent appearances on the injury report have coincided with him taking a step back on both ends. In 2024-25, he\u2019s averaging 17.9 points per game but shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three. He\u2019s averaging 1.5 steals per game but allows plenty of perimeter penetration. In fact, he\u2019s in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/players\/isolation?TypeGrouping=defensive\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">20th percentile of isolation defenders<\/a> this season, allowing 1.14 points per possession.<\/p>\n<p>So, as far as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Jokic<\/a>\u2019s All-Star sidekicks go, it makes sense that Porter is the one who would draw more trade interest.<\/p>\n<h3>Who Should The Nuggets Target?<\/h3>\n<p>The best player available on the trade market would seem to be Miami Heat forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/butleji01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jimmy Butler<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Though there\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/17\/heat-pat-riley-keeps-cool-amid-jimmy-butler-contract-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a mutual respect<\/a>\u00a0between Butler and the organization, the reality is that they may not be willing to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/10\/jimmy-butler-miami-heat-contract-decision-imminent\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">pay him what he desires<\/a> in a contract extension. Business is business and that makes him <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/10\/contenders-heat-jimmy-butler-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">someone they have to consider trading<\/a> for assets. The alternative is letting him walk away for nothing.<\/p>\n<p>New Orleans Pelicans forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/ingrabr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Ingram<\/a> finds himself <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/02\/klutch-sports-brandon-ingrams-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">in the same position<\/a>. However, he nor Washington Wizards forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kuzmaky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Kuzma<\/a> are definitive upgrades over Porter due to inconsistent defense and streaky shooting. Chicago Bulls wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lavinza01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach LaVine<\/a>\u2019s three-ball is pure but there are questions about his contract and defense.<\/p>\n<p>With that being said, there\u2019s not <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/07\/lakers-trade-lebron-james-nuggets-clippers-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a perfect player available<\/a> on the trade market. Not even Los Angeles Lakers forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a>, a four-time MVP, would fit into that category. If the Los Angeles Clippers are <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/06\/clippers-franchise-owner-details-reason-for-change-of-direction\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">prepared to go younger<\/a> though, perhaps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/leonaka01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kawhi Leonard<\/a> could become available. When healthy, he has fewer flaws than arguably any player in the NBA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Denver Nuggets (13-10) are 2.5 games behind the fourth-place Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference standings. However, as they\u2019re virtually in a four-way tie with the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors, they could slide from fifth- to eighth-place at the drop of a hat. Furthermore, they\u2019re ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":112410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,1608,8,27,26,16,62,33,4721,18],"tags":[308,109,142,168,1128,38,1223,4774,457],"class_list":["post-112177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nuggets","category-basketball","category-bulls","category-clippers","category-lakers","category-heat","category-nba","category-pelicans","category-trade-rumors","category-wizards","tag-brandon-ingram","tag-jamal-murray","tag-jimmy-butler","tag-kawhi-leonard","tag-kyle-kuzma","tag-lebron-james","tag-michael-porter-jr","tag-rumors","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112177"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112411,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112177\/revisions\/112411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}