Report: Nuggets "quietly exploring" Emmanuel Mudiay's value in trade talks

According to ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe, the Nuggets are “quietly exploring” what they could get in return for second-year point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, along with multiple draft picks.

“The Nuggets are quietly exploring what they might get for Emmanuel Mudiay and multiple picks, sources say, but they’re in no rush to move Mudiay, and the Suns may not want him when they could simply draft a point guard.”

Mudiay, 20, is averaging 12.2 points on 37.4 percent shooting this season, to go with 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He’s started all 41 games for the Nuggets this year that he’s appeared, except for Wednesday night’s loss to Memphis where Mudiay came off the bench for the third time in his career after missing the past five games with low back pain.

Mudiay has maintained his starting status in Denver amidst a sophomore season where the point guard hasn’t taken a noticeable step forward from his rookie campaign. The 6-foot-5 guard’s numbers across the board are nearly identical to last year’s, and although Mudiay has shown flashes at times, he’s struggled to put together consistent stretches of good basketball.

Denver’s No. 7 overall pick Jamal Murray is also enjoying an eventful rookie season where the 19-year-old is scoring 8.2 points in just under 20 minutes per game. Murray has also looked promising in the backup point guard role he’s played as of late with Mudiay sidelined. Meanwhile, Jameer Nelson, Denver’s primary backup this year, is in the middle of his best season since his career-year in 2011.

With Mudiay returning to full health, the Nuggets have a logjam at point guard and in the backcourt, one Michael Malone referenced at practice this week.

“I’ll have to get with our medical people and see, because if Emmanuel can play, maybe he’s only allowed to play 15 minutes and then figuring out okay, how do we want to disperse those minutes. But it’s a good problem to have because you have three guards that are playing at a high level. Obviously, you can’t play three point guards meaningful minutes so I’ll have to make some tough decisions regarding that front.”

“As of right now, no definitive answer has been arrived at in terms of who’s going to start, who’s going to play the backup and who’s going to be the guy getting the rest. Good problem to have.”

Lowe drops Mudiay’s name in reference to speculation that Phoenix could move Eric Bledsoe, at the trade deadline, although the Nuggets have no reported interest in the Suns’ point guard.

The Nuggets have their own first-round draft pick this year along with Memphis’ selection, which is protected for picks 1-5.