After their disappointing exit from the Western Conference Semifinals, the Denver Nuggets are faced with the task of bouncing back stronger than ever. To achieve this, they may consider re-tooling their roster, which could involve making tough decisions such as trading away Michael Porter Jr., who commands a significant salary.
In a recent article by The Sporting News’ Stephen Noh, a potential trade scenario was presented that could not only help the Nuggets address their financial obligations but also strengthen their core. This trade proposal involves a collaboration between the Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Noh detailed the reasons why adding Allen and LeVert to the team would greatly benefit the Nuggets:
“For the Nuggets, getting a one-time All-Star in Allen would help bolster their rim protection and give them another athletic lob threat to put alongside Aaron Gordon and Jokic. Allen would be the most overqualified backup in the league or allow the Nuggets to play a huge lineup and bully opponents. LeVert would give them some much-needed shot creation, which they were missing against Minnesota.”
Allen’s selection for the All-Star team in 2022 solidifies his status as a top player in the league. With LeVert joining the Nuggets, they will have a much-needed scoring boost off the bench. Improving their bench scoring will be crucial in avoiding another disappointing elimination.
The trade of Michael Porter Jr. is crucial for the Nuggets’ success
The Nuggets are prepared to invest a substantial amount for Porter Jr.’s services in the future. However, with the conclusion of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season, doubts arise regarding the value of Porter’s skillset. Mark Kizla from the Denver Gazette has compellingly argued that the Nuggets would benefit more from trading away their former lottery pick.
“A far bigger change is demanded to return this team to legit championship contention in a Western Conference that will only be tougher next season,” Kizla wrote in a May 20 story. “The Nuggets need to reconfigure the roster by trading Porter, who disappeared when the team needed him most against Minnesota, missing nine of a dozen shots in Game 7 and finishing with 9 points.”
The Nuggets’ lack of depth significantly impacted their playoff performance
The Denver team lacked depth to successfully defend their title. Jokic appeared fatigued during the playoffs, even joking about cloning himself. Murray struggled with injuries, diminishing his performance as Playoff Jamal.
Despite Porter’s undeniable talent, the Nuggets made a critical mistake by relying solely on their exceptional starting five and neglecting to strengthen their rotation. This oversight ultimately prevented them from achieving consecutive victories.
In a candid confession, Michael Porter Jr. revealed that he faced numerous distractions throughout the season, particularly concerning his family. His brother Jontay’s NBA banishment due to gambling and his other brother Corban’s incarceration deeply impacted him. Following the Nuggets’ defeat, Porter openly admitted to reporters, as shared by Kizla, that these personal issues had a detrimental effect on his performance. However, he also acknowledged the importance of improving his ability to separate his work life from his personal life.
“I’m not going to sit here and act like it wasn’t a burden, and I wasn’t thinking about it all day, every day,” Porter said. “But that’s still no excuse. I’m a better player than I played in this series. I’m a better shooter than I shot in this series. In the NBA, you have to be able to separate your off-the-court matters with your on-the-court-play.”
