Report: Nuggets identify position to upgrade ahead of NBA’s trade deadline

The Denver Nuggets are sitting pretty atop the NBA’s western conference as the season approaches the trade deadline.

That of course means the Nuggets are likely to buy and bolster their team. The question is; what do the Nuggets need? They’ve got their starting point guard and star forward back and added some defensive pieces in the offseason, all around the league’s back-to-back MVP.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Nuggets are targeting even more wing help, writing this note on Monday:

“With the trade deadline nearing on Feb. 9, league sources say the Nuggets will be on the lookout for wing help to come off their bench. They want to get longer, more athletic, versatile, defensive-minded and bigger in that department. The Gordon trade with Orlando in March 2021 continues to pay big dividends, and adding another player with that sort of skill set would be the dream scenario here.”

It would be even more wing help because the Nuggets major moves this offseason were to sign utility man Bruce Brown, trade for shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and draft wing Christian Braun. Aaron Gordon, who is playing at a near All-Star level, can also slide into more of a wing role and Michael Porter Jr. plays on the outside. The Nuggets already have somewhat of a logjam at the position given Braun has shown promise but can’t get on the floor every night.

But where else could the Nuggets look? The starting guard spot is fine with Jamal Murray and the backup job is held by the flashy second-year player Bones Hyland. The Nuggets could look behind Nikola Jokic to bolster a role that’s been fought between DeAndre Jordan and Zeke Nnaji.

Despite the offseason additions, the Nuggets are still 25th in defensive rating. That number has been better recently but is still not where Michael Malone wants it to be.

The issue with getting a player to mirror Gordon is the Nuggets lack tradable draft picks, only having a few second rounders to deal. That player, maybe Raptors OG Anunoby, might be hard to get because of the lack of draft assets. But even if they got Anunoby and did so for picks and maybe a young player or two like Nnaji, who slides out of the starting lineup?

Either way it seems Denver will add at the deadline and the move maybe more minor for somebody like a backup big man.

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