Nuggets Randy Foye traded to Thunder for D.J. Augustin, Steve Novak, two 2nd round picks

The Denver Nuggets have traded Randy Foye, 32, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for point guard D.J. Augustin, forward Steve Novak and two-second round picks, according to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Foye was in the final year of his contract with the team and is making $3.1 million this season.

Oklahoma City and Denver are in advanced talks on a deal for guard Randy Foye, league sources tell @TheVertical

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 18, 2016

According to league sources the #Nuggets have traded Randy Foye to Oklahoma City

— Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) February 18, 2016

Oklahoma City will DJ Augustin, Steve Novak and two second-round picks to Denver for Randy Foye, league sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 18, 2016

Denver will keep searching for a home for Novak’s contract, but he’s with Nuggets for now, league sources said.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 18, 2016

With Jameer Nelson dealing with a serious left wrist injury, the Nuggets have obtained 28 year-old point guard Augustin who fell out of favor in Oklahoma City due to rookie Cameron Payne. Augustin is in the final year of his deal that pays him $3.0 million. He shoots 39 percent from 3-point land, but in just 1.8 attempts per game. He’ll be a valuable backup for the Nuggets and averages 3.9 assists in his career.

Steve Novak, 32, is also in the final year of his deal ($3.7 million) and may not be with the team for long. Denver did not find a taker for him ahead of the 1:00 p.m. MST trade deadline, but he could be a buyout option for the team. 

Denver is also receiving two second-round picks in the deal, OKC’s and Charlotte’s 2016 picks. The Charlotte pick has protections 56-60 this season. The Nuggets have turned three second rounders into players in Erick Green (D-League free agent), Joffrey Lauvergne and Serbian Sensation Nikola Jokic. We’re still awaiting what may become of 2015 second-rounder Nikola Radicevic, a crafty point guard who has missed time with hip surgery (labrum). The picks have value as Tim Connelly and his staff have proven to be very good at scouting late-round talent. 

In Nuggets-Thunder deal, OKC created $3.8M trade exception. Denver gets OKC’s 2016 second & Charlotte’s 2016 second pick.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 18, 2016

Could buyouts be coming for Steve Novak and J.J. Hickson?

The Nuggets may still choose to buyout or waive both Novak and J.J. Hickson, thus creating two roster spots. Hickson is owed a prorated amount on his $5.7 million deal and could be looking for a buyout if thinks he has a landing spot with another team. For now, the Nuggets roster sits at 15 players, the maximum allowed by the league. If Denver buys out or waives either Novak or Hickson, then a guy like Sean Kilpatrick could be signed to add depth to the roster and replace the void left by Foye. Kilpatrick has familiarity with the team from his two 10-day contracts, but would need to be signed for the rest of the season as the limit on 10-day deals is two.

ESPN sources say Nuggets have agreed to work with newly acquired Steve Novak on a contract buyout to keep him playoff eligible for next team

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2016

ESPN sources say Denver, in addition to Steve Novak, will grant contract buyout to J.J. Hickson before March 1 playoff-eligibility deadline

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2016

With the Nuggets having depth in their frontcourt, backcourt options may be where the team looks. Adding a third point guard, if Nelson opts for surgery on his wrist, could be a route Denver chooses to take. Erick Green, another player familiar with Denver and Michael Malone’s system, is playing in the D-League after a 10-day stint with the Utah Jazz. But one can’t be sure if Green would want to return to the team that cut him earlier this season.

We’ll always have Pony Foye: 

Foye wasn’t long for the rebuilding Nuggets at 32 years-old. The 10-year NBA veteran came to the team in a complex sign-and-trade deal on July 10, 2013 that sent Andre Iguodala (The Mole!) from the Nuggets to the Golden State Warriors – along with Kevin Murphy from the Utah Jazz, Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, a 2014 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick, a 2017 first-round pick and 2017 second-round pick from the Warriors to the Jazz – along with a 2018 second-round pick and cash from the Nuggets and Foye (via Jazz) and a 2018 second-round pick (Warriors) to the Nuggets.

Foye played for both Brian Shaw and Michael Malone while in Denver. His first two seasons with the Nuggets, under Shaw, he averaged 30.7 and 21.7 minutes per game. That time was reduced by Malone to 19.8 minutes per game as a primary backup at shooting guard, but Foye also filled in at point guard at times throughout his tenure with Denver. This season Foye’s scoring averages dropped to 6.0 points per game from his career 11.0 points per game. Marred in a shooting slump for most of the season, Foye began to see his numbers rise in February.

Here are Foye’s shooting splits by month, from Basketball Reference.com.

December and February saw Foye’s minutes increase, along with his production, as Mudiay missed 10 games in December and Jameer Nelson has missed all of the team’s six contests in February. The guard can still be productive, but needs the minutes to work himself into a groove.

I won’t soon forget Foye’s time in Denver. I was one of his harshest critics this season for his play on the floor. But off the floor, Foye has been a tremendous person and professional for the Nuggets. He’s always willing to talk with the media, has been a great teammate and valuable locker room presence. I first got to speak with Foye while he was waiting to board his plane to Denver. It was one of the first phone interviews I had done with a current player and Foye was, as he’s always been, gracious with his time and insight into the league.

Best of luck to Foye and we’ll always have this:

stay gold pony foye

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) November 21, 2015