Denver Nuggets Receive: G Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards Receive: F Michael Porter Jr., G Bones Hyland, F/C Zeke Nnaji, rights to DEN’s 2022 first-round pick
The Denver Nuggets have learned this season that they need to surround Nikola Jokic with reliable talent as quickly as possible.
Jokic did all he could for the Nuggets this season, likely winning the Most Valuable Player award by grabbing the sixth seed despite missing his second and third options in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for the entirety of the season.
While Bradley Beal hasn’t exactly been the picture of health, he has been much more available than Michael Porter Jr. in their respective careers. And when Beal is on the court, he can be counted on to consistently produce offense at the highest level.
Having Beal running off screens or cutting to the basket would be a fever dream for Jokic, who’s become accustomed to passing to Aaron Gordon and Monte Morris. Jamal Murray and Bradley Beal would form a new star backcourt in the West and either player could run screen actions with the Joker to give the Nuggets an attack to provide opposing defenses nightmares.
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Washington would be making a high-risk, high-reward bet on this trade, potentially acquiring a franchise cornerstone in Michael Porter Jr. The Wizards would be betting that MPJ can stay healthy and continue to grow into a future superstar. He’s already a walking mismatch who can score from any spot on the court.
The Wizards would have plenty of patience to wait for him to rehab his body back to full strength, all the while they can continue to compete for lottery odds.
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Bones Hyland is also a player with potential and can fill some of the offensive void left by Bradley Beal’s departure. Zeke Nnaji is a solid young player who has room to grow as well. To sweeten the pot, the Nuggets could make their 2022 first-round selection for Washington and then trade him over.
