Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets were one of the more active teams on deadline day. They completed two different deals, first acquiring JaVale McGee from the Cleveland Cavaliers and then Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic. Both players will help stabilize their rotation and they didn’t have to give up much to do it.

For McGee, the Nuggets are sending Isaiah Hartenstein, a 2027 unprotected second-round pick and a protected 2023 second-round pick. For Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets sent Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and a 2025 protected first-round pick. Gary Clark is also heading to Mile High with Gordon.

While Hampton has some upside, the Nuggets paid a great price to land McGee and Aaron Gordon. They are in win-now mode and the development of a player such as Hampton is secondary. Harris’s jump shot has disappeared in recent years. While he was a solid defender, that may be a case of addition by subtraction.

Aaron Gordon was the big piece for the Nuggets. He will help replace what the team had lost when Jerami Grant left in free agency and signed with the Detroit Pistons. Mike Malone should have a great time with the new lineup combinations that will be at his disposal.