How This Trade Impacts Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets need to capitalize on the championship window that they have created. They have a superstar in Nikola Jokic manning the middle. Michael Porter Jr. has made great strides and is looking like one of the best scoring forwards in the NBA. Now, they need that one piece to put them over the top.

Damian Lillard would be that piece. Acquiring him would make the Nuggets a legitimate NBA Finals contender. That is especially true since Jamal Murray will likely miss the 2021-22 season because of a torn ACL. But, even if he were healthy, Lillard would be an upgrade.

Murray has four years and $131 million left on his contract. That is a lot of money for someone whose crowning achievement is a stretch of games in the Orlando Bubble. He has yet to make an All-Star game in his career, and that contract could become burdensome if he doesn’t fully recover.

On the other hand, Lillard has turned into one of the most feared offensive players in the NBA. Everything that Murray does is what Lillard would bring to the table, just with it turned up to 10. 

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He can shoot it with ease from long-range and is a master with the ball in his hands. Watching him and Jokic work in the pick-and-roll would be a thing of beauty. He has similar shortcomings to Murray on defense, but Will Barton and Aaron Gordon will help cover that.

If Lillard requests a trade out of Portland, Denver needs to jump at the chance to acquire him. It is not often that a team can turn into legitimate contenders with one deal, and the Nuggets would have to take advantage of that opportunity.