Blake Griffin (Photo : Harry How | Getty Images Sport)
In the aftermath of NBA free agency the next way for teams to improve their roster is to explore trades.
The NBA trade rumors are picking up and one of the teams that definitely has the assets to pull off a major trade is the Denver Nuggets.
Denver was one of the teams named by Zach Lowe of ESPN to have been offered Paul Millsap as part of the cap clearing procedure to keep Al Horford.
"Trading Millsap would net the Hawks some building blocks and free them from the dilemma of paying his super-max deal," Lowe said. "They talked about Millsap trades with Phoenix, Denver, Toronto and Houston; the Nuggets were ready to flip a players-and-picks package headlined by Kenneth Faried, according to several sources familiar with the matter."
However, the big caveat is that Millsap is due for a huge payday next season and that was the reason why the Hawks chose Horford over him. The problem was, Horford left.
"But Millsap now knows the Hawks tried to move him, and his trade value declines every day," Lowe warned. "Trading a player like Millsap is painful. He emerged last season as one of the 15 or 20 best players in the league, at worst."
Which is why it's likely that the Denver Nuggets could revisit the trade. A package of Kenneth Faried, Will Barton or even Danilo Gallinari along with future draft considerations could help the Atlanta Hawks rebuild. It would also build a core around Dwight Howard-the new centerpiece of the Hawks.
The Nuggets have been yearning for a franchise player and Millsap is a worthy target, but he's not the only one. According to Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer, Blake Griffin could find himself on the trading block.
"Even if a Durant acquisition doesn't materialize, there will be a ton of interest in Griffin throughout the NBA," Tjarks said. To that end, he proposed Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton and Joffrey Lauvergne as possible assets sent to the Clippers in return.
"Having two excellent passers like Griffin and Jokic on the front line would create a ton of open shots for the Nuggets' phalanx of young guards," Tjarks stated. On the other hand, Gallinari is the stretch four that Griffin wasn't-a better fit alongside DeAndre Jordan.
These are trades that could materialize down the road. The Nuggets are a team to watch and they could be the team that pulls off a blockbuster instead of the Celtics.
