The Nuggets are actively in search of a perimeter defender ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, sources told The Denver Post.
The major obstacle they’ve run into has been their available trade chips and, specifically, the aggregate contracts they’d use to acquire such a defender, one source said. The goal, with next season in mind as well, has always been to land a player who wouldn’t be just a rental.
Given how hamstrung the Nuggets are in terms of their flexibility, they’ve even signaled a willingness to discuss their 2027 first-round pick, according to a source. Whether that might land one of their 3-and-D targets is unclear, but it’s an indication of how aggressive the Nuggets are trying to be ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
From a broader perspective, it’s also an indication of the organization’s urgency to take advantage of Nikola Jokic’s best years.
In order to land a rotation-level player in return, the Nuggets would almost have to use JaMychal Green’s $8.2 million contract (player option this summer). The eight-year veteran has the ability to veto any trade, which makes trading him to any non-contender a difficult proposition.
The Nuggets also have the expiring contracts of Facu Campazzo ($3.1 million), Austin Rivers ($2.4 million) and Vlatko Cancar ($1.8 million) to compile for salary-matching purposes in a potentially bigger deal. Like Green, Rivers has veto power on any trade.
Campazzo has fallen out of the rotation, and there’s at least some sentiment that the Nuggets could find a team where he might have more playing time over the latter portion of the season, sources said.
