Trade Scenario No. 2 – Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets Receive: F Kristaps Porzingis, G Josh Green, DAL 2021 2nd Round Pick

Dallas Mavericks Receive: G Gary Harris, G/F Will Barton, DEN 2022 1st Round pick, DEN 2025 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected)

After starting off the season slow, the Denver Nuggets have started to turn things around and are currently 16-14. Nikola Jokic has been putting on a show this season, averaging 26.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists, making him one of the favorites to win the MVP award this season. 

With Jokic playing the best basketball of his career and Jamal Murray starting to look like “Bubble Murray” from last season, there is a lot to like about this Nuggets team. The only problem with them is their lack of overall talent on the offensive end of the court. Both Jokic and Murray have usage rates over 25% this season, meaning that when they are on the court together, they account for over 50% of the Nuggets’ total production. 

Without either of these guys on the court, the Nuggets can struggle at times offensively, even though they have other talents like Michael Porter Jr, Paul Millsap and Will Barton. Losing Jerami Grant has really hurt the overall production of the Nuggets and getting Kristaps Porzingis could give them that third reliable scoring option they need to make it back to the Western Conference Finals. 

Pairing Porzingis with Jokic in the frontcourt gives the Nuggets one of the better frontcourts in the league and one that is virtually impossible to guard. Having two 7-footers in the same rotation who are more than capable of knocking down perimeter shots makes this Denver offense lethal and very hard to stop. 

Giving up Gary Harris and Will Barton definitely impacts the Nuggets overall depth and rotation players, but it may be worth the cost long-term. Both Harris and Barton could be big-time additions for the Mavericks, especially since they do not have much talent on the wing. 

RELATED: NBA Trade Rumors: Mavericks ‘taking temperature’ on trade for Kristaps Porzingis

Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney-Smith have been very inconsistent options on the offensive-end of the court this season, which is why this trade could make a lot of sense for the Dallas Mavericks. 

Both Harris and Barton have proven to be versatile scorers, but they are also really solid defenders. Getting two “3-and-D” players gives Doncic more weapons to utilize on offense, but helps a Mavericks’ defense that has really struggled at times this year. 

If Dallas is looking for immediate production to keep them in playoff contention this year in a trade involving Kristaps Porzingis, then they should look no further than the Denver Nuggets who can offer up two key role players and some draft compensation.