Why The Denver Nuggets Do The Deal 

With this deal, the Nuggets abandon art in the name of science. It’s always made sense to put the most reliable floor-spacers around Jokic that they could. 

That’s not to say that we can’t understand their logic in landing Gordon. After all, Jokic himself is a lethal floor-spacer. The Nuggets likely wagered that they could sacrifice in that area in order to add Gordon’s defense. 

Sure. At the same time, as the kids say – get you one that can do both. 

Crowder is perhaps a marginally less versatile defender than Gordon, but he’s better at the point of attack. Moreover, he plays with an intensity that Gordon doesn’t. Given Jokic’s dominant but sometimes lackadaisical style, that’s an edge the Nuggets would be fortunate to add.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets & Phoenix Suns Updates

Still, it’s mainly Crowder’s vastly superior floor-spacing that will serve better to complement Jokic’s elite playmaking. Sometimes, X simply equals X.