The real prize of the Nuggets' mega deadline deal is...

Ever since Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez turned down contract extensions prior to the beginning of the regular season, the writing seemed to be on the wall.

When the Nuggets were banged up and down a starter or two, Beasley and Hernangomez saw their minutes climb. Beasley logged 39 minutes off the bench in Denver’s 134-131 overtime win in Golden State when the Nuggets were without three starters — Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Paul Millsap — and finished with 27 points and sunk five of his 10 three-point attempt. Over Denver’s last two games, Heranngomez logged 20 minutes per contest for the undermanned Nuggets, significantly more than the 12.4 he averaged over the first four months of the season.

But when the Nuggets have been healthy this season, Beasley and Hernangomez were relegated to reserve roles and found themselves on the outside looking in of Denver’s night-to-night rotation. While the season progressed, the Nuggets fielded calls from rival teams who expressed interest in acquiring both players. Late Tuesday night Denver decided it was the right time to pull the trigger on a trade.

In exchange for the duo, the Nuggets reportedly received Noah Vonleh, Keita Bates-Diop and Shabazz Napier. Vonleh, a sixth-year big man who’s averaging just 12 minutes per game this season, will give Denver frontcourt depth while Plumlee works back from a right foot injury. Plumlee is scheduled to be reevaluated over the next two weeks.

Bates-Diop, a 24-year-old, 6-foot-8 forward, is averaging 6.8 points and three rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. Shabazz Napier will slot in behind Monte Morris on Denver’s depth chart and averaged 9.6 points and 5.2 assists for Minnesota across 36 games (22 starts). The Nuggets also received Gerald Green, who’s currently sidelined after undergoing surgery for a broken left foot in October, from the Houston Rockets. Green is expected to be waived and could miss the rest of the season.

But the prize of the Nuggets’ trade deadline deal is the 2020 first-round pick they reportedly acquired from the Rockets. Denver’s front office has shown it can work magic in the draft before and last summer the Nuggets dealt their 2020 first-round selection for Jerami Grant who looks like he’ll be a mainstay in their frontcourt for years to come. Denver can also flip its newly acquired draft selection for another player or as part of a bigger package before Thursday’s 1 p.m. MT deadline.

The Nuggets can also stand pat over the next 24 hours. According to one league source, Denver would feel comfortable doing just that. Napier gives the Nuggets a steady third-string point guard for their upcoming playoff push and Vonleh and Bates-Diop provide depth in the frontcourt and on the wing to replace Beasley and Hernangomez.

Both Beasley and Hernangomez weren’t likely to factor significantly into Michael Malone’s immediate playoff rotation either, another reason Denver felt comfortable moving off of both. That rotation is sure to feature at least Nikola Jokic, Will Barton, Monte Morris, Murray, Harris, Millsap and Grant.

As long as Plumlee is healthy for the postseason, he’ll likely see occasional minutes as well and if rookie Michael Porter Jr.’s last month is evidence of what’s to come over the final two months of the regular season, he’ll have to be on the floor in the playoffs. Torrey Craig’s defense — he was again stellar on that end of the floor Tuesday against Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers in the Nuggets’ 127-99 win — will get him on the court in a postseason setting. That’s a 10-deep rotation already.

A secondary but significant piece of the four-team trade which also works in the Nuggets’ favor: Denver’s involvement in this deal sent Nuggets killer Clint Capela to the Eastern Conference. The Rockets aren’t nearly as scary of a playoff matchup for the Nuggets without James Harden’s top lob threat.

The prospects of the Nuggets including their newly acquired first-round pick in a larger deal is appealing, but it takes two to tango, and according to ESPN, as of Wednesday morning the Pelicans still aren’t in a hurry to deal Jrue Holiday. That can change ahead of Thursday afternoon’s deadline and until then Denver will still look to upgrade its roster. But if that type of deal doesn’t materialize the Nuggets seem content to move into the final two months of the season with their team as currently constructed.

Both Beasley and Herangomez’s clocks were up in Denver and they were in need of fresh starts. There was a case to be made that perhaps a hot-streak from Beasley in the playoffs could swing a pivotal game Denver’ direction, but with both soon to be restricted free agents likely gone once the season ended, the Nuggets decided to ultimately cash in on both fourth-year players while they could.