The NBA is a constantly evolving ecosystem. A team that seems untouchable one year can become vulnerable the next. Why? There’s so much talent in the league. How? Getting fleeced in a trade or losing players in free agency. The Nuggets have lost key contributors in back-to-back offseasons and find themselves needing veterans to keep competing. This trade will allow the Nuggets to recreate some Olympic magic and hope the veterans acquired in this deal breathe new life into their title dreams.
This Denver Nuggets Trade Recreates Some Olympic Magic While Contending
The Nuggets are heading into the 2024-25 season with something to prove. After winning the first NBA championship in their history just over a year ago against the Miami Heat, there were hopes of a dynasty among the Denver faithful. What’s better than one title? A back-to-back. Unfortunately, their title defense ended in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, losing to the Timberwolves 4-3 in a closely fought series. When the Nuggets won the title in 2023, they had a fairytale run. They were dominant en route to the title, posting a record of 16-4 in the playoffs.
Following their triumph, they lost Bruce Brown to the Pacers and Jeff Green to the Rockets in free agency. During the course of last season, their depth was seen as the real chink in their armor. In the end, a bench that was 25th in points during the regular season and last-bar-one during the playoffs would cost them their title defense. To make matters worse, this offseason they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free agency. Paying four players over $20 million has put them in a precariously expensive situation—the cost of competing for a title. It’s become increasingly obvious that to improve this roster, they would have to sacrifice a key contributor.
The Trade Between the Nuggets and Hawks
Nuggets receive: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela
Hawks receive: Michael Porter Jr., Julian Strawther, Hunter Tyson, and a lottery-protected pick in 2028.
Why the Hawks Do the Deal
First of all, they will be getting the player with the highest upside in the deal. At just 26, Porter Jr. is entering his prime. Statistically, his best years are ahead of him. This is a guy who has contributed to an NBA champion as the third-best option offensively. Besides Trae Young, he could take up the second option offensively and blossom in that role.
Porter Jr. has averaged 15.7 points on an effective field goal percentage of 60% for his career. He is a career 41 percent three-point shooter on nearly six attempts per game. He is an elite shooter. Porter Jr. fits right in with the Hawks’ love for drafting huge 3-and-D wings. While they already have De’Andre Hunter, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jalen Johnson as wings, you can’t have too many of these wings. Besides, they will be looking to play one of them at shooting guard to cover up for Trae defensively.
Strawther was the 29th pick of the 2023 draft. He’s a versatile 3-and-D wing known for his quick release and efficient three-point shooting. During his three years at Gonzaga, he excelled as a floor spacer, effectively attacking closeouts and finishing in the lane with a superb floater. Strawther is also capable of driving to the rim on aggressive closeouts, showing great touch in and around the paint. In his first two college seasons, he was incredibly efficient inside the arc, shooting 70% and 66%. Strawther seamlessly fit into Gonzaga’s fast-paced offense, using his speed and intelligence to find the right spots in transition. This means he could fit into a similar style with the Hawks under Quin Snyder.
The Nuggets Recreate Some Olympic Magic
The Nuggets will be getting two veterans who solve pressing issues. Capela, at 30, gives the Nuggets a dependable backup big for Nikola Jokic. One of the underrated things about Jokic is his ability to stay fit; he has made at least 70 appearances in every season but one (69 in the 2022-23 season). After an extended season, where he represented Serbia at the Olympics, it would be wise to have some cover for him. Capela is a walking double-double threat with his unique combination of rebounding and defense. As a roll-and-cut big man, he will be a younger DeAndre Jordan.
Bogdanovic and Jokic were teammates at the Olympics and combined for some success as they led Serbia to a bronze. The Nuggets must have seen how both players played off each other and should look to recreate that Olympic magic in the NBA. During the 2023-24 season, Bogdanovic averaged a career-high 16.9 points on an effective field goal percentage of 53.7. He has shot the three-ball at 38.4% for his career on 6.5 attempts per game. His three-point percentage was the second-highest of his career, and he broke the franchise record for the most three-pointers in a single season with 240. That gave him a team-high plus/minus of +127. Bogdanovic is good enough to be a starter on any team and did so several times last season when the Hawks were dealing with so many injuries.
The Last Word
This deal makes sense for the Hawks as it gives them a second potential star to play off their primary star in Trae. At worst, Porter Jr. can take up the role of the third option on the team. They also turn the expiring contract of Capela into some assets and a heavily protected pick in 2028. A pick is always an asset in the NBA.
The Nuggets finally take steps to resolve their depth issues. Additionally, the players added will be on the same timeline as this championship window. Bogdanovic will fit seamlessly around the core as a movement shooter and Capela as a lob threat. Competing in the NBA usually comes down to the finest of margins. This trade gives Michael Malone vets that he can trust and use in games. It also clears a path to the starting lineup for Peyton Watson. This trade could see the Nuggets use some Olympic magic to create an edge for themselves in their quest for a second title.
