As of Tuesday evening, Nikola Jokić is on tempo to develop into simply the third participant in NBA historical past to common a triple-double for a season. It would go down as top-of-the-line particular person seasons in NBA historical past, and a season that can certainly catapult Jokić into the realm of the greats who’ve performed this recreation. But if his Denver Nuggets are going to stay title contenders, the three-time MVP’s greatness continues to be not sufficient.
With the NBA’s commerce window opening this previous weekend, and with the commerce deadline lower than two months away, the Nuggets are canvassing the league in pursuit of a participant who can provide important assist offensively, league sources inform The Athletic.
As a end result, the Nuggets have both expressed curiosity in, or have had preliminary commerce discussions on the next gamers: Chicago’s Zach LaVine, Washington’s Jordan Poole, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas.
League sources say the give attention to LaVine in latest discussions is critical, with the Nuggets within the 29-year-old who’s averaging 21.7 factors, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. LaVine, a two-time All-Star, is owed $43 million this season, $45.9 million subsequent season and has a participant possibility value $48.9 million for the 2026-27 marketing campaign.
This isn’t the primary time the Nuggets have proven a need to improve with a wing scorer. As The Athletic reported in late June, Denver mentioned the prospect of including Paul George in a commerce that may have possible included Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji going to the LA Clippers (and George coming to the Nuggets through an extend-and-trade deal). That deal didn’t go down, but it surely was as robust an indication as any that Denver had recognized this want a while in the past.
Any huge commerce would possible contain Porter, based on league sources. Porter has lengthy been top-of-the-line shooters within the league. This season, he has rounded into changing into an all-around scorer, able to impacting offense from all three ranges. He has additionally gotten stronger and develop into extra impactful defensively than he has been previously.
Nnaji can be out there, league sources say. Any important deal the Nuggets would do, may must contain a choose swap as a sweetener.
According to league sources, the Nuggets worth Porter and what he does for the spacing of Denver’s offense considerably. Porter, who makes $35.8 million this season and is signed via the 2026-27 marketing campaign (assured in that season), is having a profession 12 months (18.5 factors, 7.1 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists per recreation).
League sources say the Nuggets even had extension talks with Porter earlier within the season, a robust indication they nonetheless really feel assured about his long-term future. Porter, 26, is rounding into the prime of his profession whereas nonetheless enhancing as an total participant. He has a historical past of damage points however has remained comparatively wholesome over the previous few seasons, taking part in in 81 video games final season.
With Jokić averaging 31 factors, 13 rebounds and 10 assists per recreation — marks which have by no means been reached in league’s historical past — the necessity to alleviate a few of Jokić’s offensive burden is obtrusive. He is averaging a profession excessive in subject purpose makes an attempt (21.1), good for fourth within the league and effectively above his second-highest complete (18.0 within the 2020-21 season). His minutes have spiked this season, too, with Jokić averaging 37.3 (tied for second within the league; his second highest was 34.6 within the 2020-21 season). The Nuggets’ offense is at present ranked seventh within the league (down from fifth final season and fourth within the season prior, once they gained the title).
More importantly, the Nuggets are looking for assist in the type of somebody who is ready to create offense with the ball in his fingers. A variety of Denver’s points stem from Jokić and Jamal Murray being the one gamers on the roster who’re constantly able to creating their very own pictures. League sources say the Nuggets wish to add yet one more participant who is ready to try this at a excessive stage.
That’s why Denver has forged a large internet. But the Nuggets’ collective lack of property as a first-apron crew make getting a deal completed with some groups tougher. For occasion, Clarkson’s means to attain off the bench, in addition to his playoff expertise, could be a terrific match for the Nuggets. A Clarkson deal possible wouldn’t require Denver to incorporate Porter. But it could possible require the Nuggets to incorporate an unprotected first-round choose swap that Denver could also be hesitant to incorporate.
The final two years for Denver has been a combination and match effort to increase a championship window with Jokić because the centerpiece. This season, Jokić has been far and away the very best participant on this planet. But as of Tuesday, the Nuggets are 14-10 total, fifth within the Western Conference, and groups such because the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies have separated themselves on the high of the standings.
The Nuggets need to ensure they’re extra viable for the pains of the common season, and for the postseason, when isolation scoring turns into extra vital.
Required Reading
(Photo of Zach LaVine and Nikola Jokić: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
