The NBA offseason is heating up, and the Denver Nuggets find themselves at a crucial crossroads following a promising yet ultimately disappointing playoff run. After defeating the Los Angeles Clippers and pushing the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink in a thrilling Game 7, the Nuggets are now weighing whether to make significant roster changes to deepen their chances for future success.
With new head coach David Adelman taking the reins, the franchise faces a pivotal moment. Central to this decision-making is the performance of their star duo, Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, alongside the contributions of their supporting cast. While the trio of Jokić, Murray, and forward Aaron Gordon provided strong performances, the rest of the roster struggled to match their production in the playoffs. Bench contributions were sparse, with Russell Westbrook offering flashes of brilliance against the Clippers but fading against the Thunder, and Michael Porter Jr. averaging less than 10 points per game amid concerns of a shoulder injury.
Nuggets’ top 6 guys for the entire 2025 playoffs:
Jokić 26, 13, and 8, on 49/38/77 shooting
Murray 22, 5, and 5, on 44/35/87
Gordon 16, 8, and 3, on 48/38/86
Braun 13, 6, and 2, on 45/30/71
Westbrook 12, 4, and 3, on 39/32/70
Porter 9, 5, and 1, on 39/34/71Main takeaways?
— Miroslav Ćuk (@MiroslavCuk) May 20, 2025
In light of these challenges, former NBA champion and Celtics legend Paul Pierce has proposed a bold trade that could reshape the Nuggets’ landscape. On his podcast “Ticket & The Truth,” Pierce suggested that acquiring DeMar DeRozan could offer a significant boost to Denver’s offensive capabilities. “I feel like if they had a DeMar DeRozan… he ain’t gotta be the best player or the second best player every night,” Pierce stated. He believes DeRozan could provide an essential scoring punch, potentially averaging above Porter’s current playoff production.
The feasibility of a trade involving Porter Jr. for DeRozan presents challenges. The Nuggets would need to navigate salary cap intricacies to match DeRozan’s contract while also considering their goal of staying under the first apron. If a deal were struck, it would bring in a player who averaged 22.2 points per game in the recent season, an improvement the Nuggets desperately need.
However, the Sacramento Kings may hesitate to absorb a larger contract in return for the younger, high-potential asset in Porter Jr. It raises questions: Is the risk worth the potential reward for both sides? And will the Nuggets be willing to gamble on this trade to bolster their playoff viability?
As the summer progresses and teams reevaluate their strategies, the spotlight remains on the Nuggets and their roster decisions. With the right moves, they could transform their playoff hopes into championship ambitions.