The Denver Nuggets could be targeting two veteran trade options as the 2016 NBA draft gets set to tip off tonight.
Brooklyn’s Thaddeus Young and Phoenix’s Brandon Knight have been mentioned in league circles as potential trade options for teams looking to add veteran depth to their roster.
The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday morning that the Brooklyn Nets were aggressively seeking a trade partner for the 28-year-old Young, who has three years and nearly $40 million remaining on his contract.
Sources: Several Western teams aggressive on Thad Young, whom Brooklyn's working to move to highest bidder. This gets Nets into first-round.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2016
Wojnarowski mentions several “Western teams” could be interested in Young’s services. The Nets are currently without a first-round pick and with Denver’s plethora of first rounders, including the No. 7, 15, and 19 overall selections, the Nuggets could make sense as a landing spot for Young.
Young would add a veteran presence to Denver’s young roster who can score inside and protect the rim. Young averaged 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last season in Brooklyn and a package involving Kenneth Faried and a late first-round pick could be a productive place to begin talks.
In addition to Young, the Nuggets may also have interest in 24-year-old guard Brandon Knight, who according to multiple reports is on the trade block in Phoenix. Knight saw his playing time drop considerably when 19-year-old Devin Booker emerged as a top option for the Suns last season. The Suns’ backcourt remain crowded with Booker, Eric Bledsoe and Knight all in need of starter-level minutes.
The growing sense in league circles is that the Suns are determined to move either Bledsoe or Brandon Knight before the start of next season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 23, 2016
A combo guard could help develop Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver’s first selection in last year’s draft and Knight could fit that bill nicely and take some pressure off the 20-year-old. Knight averaged 19.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season.
Bledsoe would most likely command a bigger trade haul and is more of a point guard than Knight, and the chances Denver would make a call inquiring about him is less likely.
