Bennett Durando is the Denver Nuggets beat writer for The Denver Post. Before moving to Colorado, where he started as The Post's Avalanche beat writer, he covered SEC football, basketball and other sports for five years: first reporting on his alma mater, Missouri, for the St.
Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets signals to teammates during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. On Dec. 8, they woke up in Atlanta after suffering an inexcusable defeat the night before in Washington, where their last lead of the game was 4-2. The Wizards snapped a 16-game losing streak.
Denver possessed the seventh-best record in the NBA as of Friday, sitting 1.5 games back from the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Trade winds have calmed,in December. Questions about the roster can be more ambitious now, like in past seasons.
Jimmy Butler is the biggest name and certainly the loudest personality on the market this season, but while his saga has reached a stalemate in Miami, LaVine has quietly emerged as the best basketball player up for grabs. Even with the Nuggets rolling, he’s talented and versatile enough as a scorer to warrant consideration, especially if Chicago is agreeable to the idea of taking on Zeke Nnaji’s contract as salary-filler alongside Michael Porter Jr.
There is a robust market of big men worth examining this trade season, with cap figures that fit the Nuggets’ price range for a Nnaji trade. As encouraging as it is that Gordon , Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson have exceeded expectations from the 3-point line, opponents might count on them to backslide in high-leverage playoff situations. The same might even be said for Jokic , who shot 26.4% on 4.4 attempts per game last postseason.
Chris Boucher could make sense. The 6-foot-9 forward is shooting 36% and getting paid $10.8 million in Toronto this season. With positional size and some defensive versatility, the 32-year-old fits more than one category on this list.The Nuggets finished the 2023-24 regular season with the fifth-best offensive rating and eighth-best defensive rating in the NBA. They were one of only three teams to rank top eight on both ends of the floor.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Denver Post Investigates the Future of Sports Stadiums in DenverThe Denver Post examines the state of professional sports stadiums in Denver, exploring the potential for a new Broncos stadium, the financial implications of stadium construction, and the evolution of stadium ownership and development.
Read more »
Denver Nuggets Reportedly Have Trade Interest In 8-Year NBA VeteranAccording to SNY's Ian Begley, the Denver Nuggets like Chris Boucher.
Read more »
Russell Westbrook's Impact on the Denver NuggetsThe Denver Nuggets are on a winning streak thanks in part to the surprising performance of Russell Westbrook. Originally signed as a backup, Westbrook has become a key starter and his impact on the team's success is undeniable.
Read more »
Will Russell Westbrook Remain a Starter for the Denver Nuggets?Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has started 12 games this season, performing well in both Jamal Murray's and Aaron Gordon's absences. Coach Michael Malone is facing a dilemma when Gordon returns, as Westbrook has been a key contributor in the starting lineup.
Read more »
Win 2 tickets to Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets!Enter below to win 2 tickets to Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets! Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver NuggetsSun • Jan 12, 2025 • 2:00 PMAmerican Airlines...
Read more »
Denver Nuggets Face San Antonio Spurs in Western Conference ClashThe Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs are set to clash in a Western Conference matchup. The Nuggets are coming off a close loss to the Spurs, led by Nikola Jokic's 41 points. Both teams will be looking to strengthen their playoff positions.
Read more »