Nuggets Roundtable: Who's your favorite trade target?

The NBA trade deadline is exactly two weeks away, and the Nuggets could be buyers. Denver has the young assets, veterans on tradeable contracts, and internal expectations this season to make some noise at the deadline if it wants to.

But who knows how busy this trade season will be. With the play-in tournament and an Eastern Conference where seeds 4-11 are separated by three games, there could be fewer sellers than ever.

Adam Mares, Harrison Wind and Brendan Vogt discuss in the latest DNVR Nuggets Roundtable.

What has to happen for Nikola Jokic to win MVP?

Adam: Right now Jokic has the edge over the main MVP contenders in advanced stats, overall per game stats, efficiency, and in terms of games played. He is behind on team success and national media narrative. But both Joel Embiid and LeBron James have already missed games this season and will likely miss a lot more in the second half of the schedule. If the Nuggets can close the gap in the win/loss department, the conversation may come down to the margins and appearing in all 72 games will stand out as a major marginal win for Jokic.

Harrison: The Nuggets will have to capture a top-4 seed and maybe even finish top-3 or top-2 in the West. That’s just life. But don’t listen to the detractors who say Jokic can’t win MVP, because he absolutely can. There’s a path to the Nuggets capturing a top-4 seed considering Denver has the fifth-easiest second-half schedule. Jokic leads the NBA in made field goals this season. He’s first in PER. He’s first in Win Shares by an incredible margin. He’s first in Box Plus-Minus and Value Over Replacement Player. FiveThirtyEight.com should rename their RAPTOR statistic “JOKIC” because of how much he’s leading that metric by.

Jokic’s stats could take a slight dip over the second half of the season because Jamal Murray’s trending up and averaged better numbers over the last month than he put up during last year’s playoffs. Michael Porter Jr.’s confidence also continues to grow. But Jokic is still averaging 27.1 points, 11 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game right now. He’s shooting 56.7% from the field, 41.8% from three, and a ridiculous 60.5% on two’s. He absolutely carried the Nuggets on his back for the first two months of the season too and kept Denver from cratering while Murray found his rhythm. Jokic has been the single most important player in the NBA this year. I really don’t think it’s a debate.

Brendan: He’s got a real shot. The Nuggets have a great chance of cracking the top four in the Western Conference and a decent chance still of stealing the three seed. The team success is the only reason he’s not a favorite, if not the front runner. Of course, we know Jokić isn’t any less impactful than he’s been in the past. He’s dragged half of an NBA-caliber roster this far already. With Porter catching up to speed and a favorable stretch of schedule incoming, this dream is still alive.

There is no advanced statistic that fails to capture his brilliance. The eye test reveals a tier-one, dominant superstar. The power of narratives is hard to overcome. Still, if the Nuggets can jump a few spots in the standings, the greatness of Jokić’s season becomes impossible to ignore — especially if James and Embiid continue to sit games out. Jokić’s durability is proving to be a real asset both for his team and in the MVP race.

What lineup are you most excited to watch throughout the rest of the season?

Adam: Jamal Murray – PJ Dozier – Zeke Nnaji – Michael Porter Jr. – Nikola Jokic

Every year we ask this question and every year I say a lineup that almost never steps on the court together. So I am a bit reluctant to suggest a lineup that will fall victim to the dreaded Mares curse. But since the lineup that intrigues me the most is already an unlikely one, I might as well let it fly.

I am very curious to see Dozier play alongside Denver’s big three since he splits the difference between Will Barton and Gary Harris, providing defense and playmaking while also adding length and athleticism. Nnaji is a bit more of an outside-of-the-box pick but I love how his skillset matches up with that group, providing outside shooting, low mistake play, and perimeter defense.

It’s a lot of youth but I wouldn’t mind seeing a stretch of games that highlighted that lineup for extended minutes.

Harrison: Jamal Murray – Gary Harris – PJ Dozier – Michael Porter Jr. – Nikola Jokic

This lineup has played zero minutes together this season and who knows if we’ll see it on the floor with Harris sure to be dangled at the trade deadline. But this five-man combination piques my interest because it has Porter at the four alongside Jokic, Murray and Denver’s top-two perimeter defenders. It could be an interesting closing five, or starting five for that matter.

My only question with this group comes down to if Dozier can play the second point guard role next to Murray (a la Monte Morris and Facu Campazzo) and slide in as the fourth or fifth offensive option. His score-first mentality has been on display so far this year. If he can, then this has the potential to be the Nuggets’ death lineup.

Brendan: Murray – Harris – Dozier – Porter – Jokić

This lineup should have the best chance to succeed in the playoffs. It’s not Denver’s most dominant offensive group, but they’ll need perimeter containment and someone to defend wings. Harris is the obvious solution to the first problem. Dozier remains a bit of a wild card but is probably best suited to fill the latter role. With the roster as currently constructed, this group is their best shot at a deep playoff run. Hopefully, we get eyes on them sooner rather than later. The Harris injury remains a bummer.

Which Nugget is most likely to be traded by the deadline?

Adam: Will Barton.

I’m not quite at the point where I would be more surprised if he wasn’t traded than if he was, but it certainly seems to make sense for the team to search for a trade partner for him if it means adding a bigger, more defensive-minded small forward.

Harrison: Will Barton

Barton’s role has predictably been minimized this season. More overall talent, scoring and playmaking have shifted Barton from a role where he was Denver’s third-best player last season to one where he’s the fourth or sometimes fifth option when on the floor. As a result, Barton’s averaging 12.2 field goal attempts per 36 minutes, his fewest since arriving in Denver in 2015. He’s still a very good three-point shooter — Barton’s converting a career-high 38.8% of his threes this season — but his turnovers are slightly up and his assists are slightly down. The Nuggets should have the scoring and playmaking to make up for Barton’s production and the 30-year-old is on a tradeable contract at $13.7 million.

Brendan: Will Barton

Most of the criticism is fair this year. Barton doesn’t appear keen on accepting a reduced role, limiting how often he calls his number, and most importantly, it’s less clear than ever that he wants to be here. The last three years have not gone according to Barton’s plan. His professional peak was stolen from him by injuries, and he missed out on the team’s remarkable playoff run. He’s returned from rehabilitation to a team that doesn’t need him anymore after leaning on him so heavily. It’s all catching up to him now, and it makes sense for both parties to consider different avenues. Barton might have far more to offer teams in a different position.

Who’s your favorite trade target for Denver?

Adam: Lonzo Ball

The real answer is that I don’t have a great pick here. I’d prefer the Nuggets target a more natural 3 and D forward with size and length on the wing but I’m not sure there are great options to be had. Aaron Gordon is probably the biggest and most intriguing name but I don’t know that he is a perfect fit for what it’d likely cost to acquire him.

Lonzo is more redundant than he was a year ago now that the Nuggets have Dozier in the rotation and Hampton next in line. Both players seem to project to be solid or better defensively while providing play-making. But Lonzo is unique. His feel for the game and ability to make lightning-quick, high-level reads in the half-court would fit perfectly into a flow offense. His length, defense, and ability to play the game one step ahead would be a dream come true alongside Jokic.

Harrison: PJ Tucker

There’s overlap with JaMychal Green and Paul Millsap already on Denver’s roster, but Tucker’s intangibles make him the type of player the Nuggets should be looking to add at the deadline. Tucker is experienced. He’s played in plenty of big-time games over the last few seasons. He’s hit big shots. He’s the type of vocal, defensive presence that would help the Nuggets in the postseason.

Brendan: Lonzo Ball

I’m drinking the company Kool-Aid, and I’m all in on Lonzo Ball. The Nuggets would love to put a primary ball-handler out there alongside Murray, but that isn’t easy to commit to given defensive concerns. Ball might be the best bet of bridging the gap between Morris’ ability to aid Murray and Harris’ ability to shore up the defense.