Nuggets, Celtics reportedly after the next disgruntled star

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The Denver Nuggets have been aggressive in trade discussions for an All-Star level player for some time now.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported back in July that Nuggets along with the Boston Celtics “still had moves up their sleeves” this offseason, which came shortly after Lowe revealed the Denver had nearly acquired Paul Millsap from the Hawks earlier in the summer. Boston remained quiet in the trade market after signing Al Horford via free agency, as did the Nuggets outside of a one week blitzkrieg on Dwyane Wade.

The latest report that links the Nuggets and that illusive All-Star level talent comes via ESPN’s Brian Windhorst who reiterated on the TrueHoop Podcast that Denver is still in the market for a star.

“Heres what I know for sure. The Nuggets are trying to be in the market with the Celtics to trade for a star player. The next star player that becomes disgruntled and arrives on the market whoever that may be, obviously the Celtics are gonna offer their 14 future first-round picks nobody wants and the Nuggets are going to scrape together all their young talent. The Nuggets realize they don’t have that centerpiece guy on their team.”

Who are these potentially “disgruntled stars” that Boston and Denver might be waiting on?

DeMarcus Cousins was disgruntled throughout the entirety of last season and into the summer, but it seems as if the chatter around the Kings center has cooled. However, league sources told Zach Harper of CBS Sports that the Kings are “fooling themselves if they think he’s sticking around.”

It would be hard imagining Cleveland parting ways with Kevin Love, at least until the season starts, especially after coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Warriors in this year’s NBA finals. Jimmy Butler is most likely off limits too unless things go really bad in a hurry for Chicago (which is a real possibility). Same goes for Blake Griffin and Millsap, the latter of which I’d imagine could be on the move rather quickly if the Hawks struggle to start the year especially with the 31-year-old’s impending free agency.

But are the Nuggets better off mortgaging their assets for one of these stars?

As I’ve said all along, if teams come calling about Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic I hang up the phone. If it’s Gary Harris I almost hang up the phone but might stay on to hear what that offer is.

If Denver realizes they don’t have that star, as Windhorst reports, they might be right. While Jokic still has a ways to go to reach his ceiling he doesn’t project as a No. 1-type player. Mudiay has a similar ceiling but might have more appeal as a potential No. 1 option in a couple years.

Fortunately we’re exactly a month out from the preseason which means we get to watch actual basketball soon.