The Denver Nuggets failed to defend their NBA championship title due to underwhelming performances from Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in their second-round playoff defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jake Uitti of Sporting News suggested a trade strategy that could help the Nuggets bounce back next season. The proposal involves creating a formidable Big Three by acquiring Kevin Durant to join their already strong duo of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The Denver Nuggets acquire Kevin Durant.
The Phoenix Suns get Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, along with first-round picks in 2028 and 2030.
Uitti proposed this trade with the idea that “Caldwell-Pope opt into his player option for next season, perhaps with a wink and a nod that the Suns would extend him.”
He presented arguments that both teams would benefit significantly from this substantial trade. For the Suns, it would provide roster depth, addressing a deficiency that contributed to their early exit in the first round. Additionally, it would help replenish their draft assets. On the other hand, the Nuggets would enhance their ability to compete for championships in the near term with the addition of Durant, a 14-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP.
“For Denver, the trade shortens their window but it also makes them scarier over the next few seasons. Durant is flat-out better than Porter, even if he is 10 years older,” Uitti wrote.
Michael Porter Jr. bears responsibility for the downfall of the Nuggets
Porter Jr. was self-critical, shouldering most of the responsibility for the Nuggets’ inability to defend their NBA championship.
“There are a lot of things we could’ve done differently as a team,” Porter told reporters after their Game 7 loss to the Timberwolves. “But I know if I would’ve played my part, we would’ve won this series. And I’ve got to live with that.”
His performance in their second-round defeat and their victory in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers was drastically different.
While he excelled against the Lakers, scoring 22.8 points and grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game, Porter Jr. struggled against the suffocating defense of the Timberwolves in the second round, managing only 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Although he didn’t want to use his personal issues as an excuse for his underwhelming performance, he acknowledged that they were on his mind.
“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.”
Two of the Nuggets star’s brothers were embroiled in controversies — Jontay Porter was prohibited from the NBA due to gambling infractions, and Coban Porter received a six-year prison sentence for causing the death of a 42-year-old woman in a drunk driving accident last year.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is rumored to be connected with the Philadelphia 76ers
Despite Caldwell-Pope’s subpar shooting performance, going 2 of 7 in 40 minutes during their Game 7 defeat against the Timberwolves, there could still be significant interest in him if he chooses to decline his $15.4 million player option and becomes a free agent.
A league executive has indicated that the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as an alternative option if they fail to secure their top choice for a two-way wing player, Paul George.
The Sixers are going after a big name, like a Paul George or a Jimmy Butler if he comes available,” one Eastern Conference GM told Heavy Sports’ Sean Deveney. “But they’re going to put almost just as much attention on adding a role player, too. They’ve run through a lot of guys playing with Joel (Embiid) but they know they need a two-way guy, a guy who can create some space by shooting the 3.
“There are a few guys on the market who will be interesting as shooters—Klay Thompson, Gary Trent, Bruce Brown—but you are not going to get a better two-way guy than KCP. That’s the guy you want with Jo and Tyrese Maxey. So, if I’m the Nuggets, the Sixers are the serious danger here.”
