Coach Karl’s Corner: An insider look at the Nuggets trades
Mar 26, 2021, 1:22 PM | Updated: 1:27 pm
Feelings/emotions/thoughts as player/coach during trade deadline
Trade deadline carries a negative energy for the locker room. It creates distraction, especially for guys who are rumored to be in trades as well as young guys not that are not used to it. The way the media magnifies everything also increases the anxiety level.
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JaVale McGee
After coaching JaVale, it’s great to see how he has evolved and matured as a basketball player. He definitely is an eclectic locker room personality. When I coached JaVale, he was a talented athlete who was trying to become a basketball player. Young players do great things, but they also do not so great things. JaVale at times would have a great five minute spurt but then have two missed assignments and have to get taken out of the game.
Bringing him back to Denver provides additional insurance at the center position, along with a veteran presence with championship experience. I envision his role will be similar to Mason Plumlee’s last year, changing the pace for about 20 minutes a game. He understands his job. Being a pick-and-roll floor spacer. Being a rim protecting shot blocker. Not to mention a rebounder on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor
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Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon is a very talented young player. He is a talent upgrade compared to Jerami Grant. When he was at Arizona, I thought he was one of the most exceptional defensive college players I had seen, about as good as Bobby Jones. My concern is, I don’t know his position. Is he a four or a three? The Nuggets are facing that dilemma with Michael Porter Jr. still too. So, he’s a top-five (and maybe top-three talent) on this team, but where will he fit exactly?
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Is it enough?
Both McGee and Gordon provide defensive minded presence, with an emphasis on improving in the paint. First couple of games are going to be experimental, however Jokic is a great player to make guys fit. It’s going to take a handful of games to get into the comfort zone of the rotation.
The NBA is open for grabs. I think teams learn, grow and come together throughout the course of a season, but most big trades made at mid-season don’t usually hit a home run. But making trades presents a chance to find some magic.
