Inside The Nuggets

NBA Trade Idea Sends $158M Star to Denver Nuggets

This NBA trade idea would land the Denver Nuggets a new star forward from the New Orleans Pelicans

Joey Linn

Nov 17, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) chest bumps center Jonas Valanciunas (17) before the first half against the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center.
Nov 17, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) chest bumps center Jonas Valanciunas (17) before the first half against the Denver Nuggets at the Smoothie King Center. / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
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The Denver Nuggets lost starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency this summer. Caldwell-Pope was a key piece to Denver’s success during his time there, serving as a reliable three-point shooter on offense while often taking the toughest assignments on defense.

Not replacing this skillset either via free agency or trade, Denver has been criticized for their approach to this transaction period, but they still remain one of the biggest threats in the Western Conference.

Upgrading their point guard rotation by trading Reggie Jackson and signing Russell Westbrook, Denver did make a solid move in that department, but still may need one more swing.

In a recent article, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley proposed a hypothetical trade idea that sends New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram to Denver.

Nuggets receive: Brandon Ingram

Pelicans receive: Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji, and a 2031 first-round pick (top-five protected)

This is not the first time Porter Jr. has been placed in a hypothetical trade scenario this offseason, as his $35.9M salary for next season would likely be needed in any major trade for Denver.

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Jamal Murray
May 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and guard Jamal Murray (27) on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game two of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Ingram is entering the final year of his five-year, $158M deal while Porter is entering the third year of his five-year, $179M deal.

Ingram’s scoring would be an upgrade over Porter’s, but he is not the three-point shooter Denver’s current starting small forward is.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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