Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin. (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors continue as the Denver Nuggets could take that bold step to become the next Western Conference power.
While the entire NBA is talking about the Boston Celtics and the assets they fleeced from the Brooklyn Nets, we forget that the Nuggets are still harvesting from their Carmelo Anthony haul.
This was a product of then GM Masai Ujiri who eventually won Executive of the Year. The pick swap with the Knicks did not seem like much of a difference because they also ended up in the lottery (from 9th to 7th) but they were able to get a player who was projected as high as third.
Jamal Murray is arguably the best shooter in the Draft and a great fit to Emmanuel Mudiay-the tall, athletic point guard of the future for the Denver Nuggets who can't shoot. David Aldridge of NBA.com gave the team good grades on their picks and also mentioned an interesting tidbit.
"The Nuggets don't have to wait any more for Danilo Gallinari or Wilson Chandler or any other vets to come back from injuries," Aldridge wrote. "They've got a good young nucleus, a good young coach in Mike Malone and a good chance to make a move up next season in the west."
However, a good young nucleus won't get you far in the NBA, at least until they develop into real All-Stars. If the Nuggets want to take the next step, now is the best time to trade for a superstar. While coach Mike Malone's presence will always trigger DeMarcus Cousins talk, the target the Nuggets coveted was Kevin Love.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' championship euphoria may take Love off the table but the Clippers may consider trading Blake Griffin again, as Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer suggested.
While the ideal situation for the Clippers would be to convince Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder to a sign and trade for Blake, there are other avenues that could make the team better. They already have two stars and it's not imperative to get a star back in return. The Clippers failed because of the holes in their lineup and a weak bench.
Something a trade with the Nuggets would solve: Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton and Joffrey Lauvergne would be a decent haul.
As Tjarks illustrated, "Gallinari would be a perfect fit as a small-ball 4, Barton would slide right into the sixth man role vacated by aging free agent Jamal Crawford, and Lauvergne would give them a nice complement to DeAndre as a stretch 5."
Blake Griffin on the Nuggets would give them two skilled passing bigs (All-Rookie team member Nikola Jokic is the other). With a backcourt of Mudiay and Murray and Wilson Chandler at the wing, Kenneth Faried off the bench-that would make a formidable core.
If the Clippers don't get Durant, they don't have much room to improve. Chris Paul and Blake could become free agents at the end of 2016-17 and the only way they can convince them to stay is to win a title. With the OKC Thunder improving and the Warriors seeking vengeance, the West will be a bloodbath again. Doc Rivers needs to explore all options.
