After a valiant postseason run, the Denver Nuggets were unable to fight back from a third 3-1 deficit. They fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
Could an Oklahoma City Thunder player help them advance further next season?
A Bleacher Report trade idea in early September proposed the Nuggets trading a few of their rotation pieces and Thunder point guard Chris Paul.
The offer: Denver trades shooting guard Gary Harris, small forward Will Barton and point guard Monte Morris for Paul.
It’s important to note that this B/R article with the trade idea was published during the second round of the playoffs at a time many thought the Nuggets would lose to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Denver, obviously took down the Clippers. However, the 3-1 deficits and the loss to the Lakers shows Denver needs some more improvement to win the title.
A player of Paul’s caliber would be beneficial, especially for a team whose success came with the season on the line.
After all, the point guard’s 150 points in crunch time this season was the best in the league.
The second-most points: Nuggets star center Nikola Jokic.
Putting the two most clutch players in the league together next to young star point guard Jamal Murray could be lethal.
In return, Oklahoma City would get wing help in 26-year-old Gary Harris and 29-year-old Will Barton, along with a rising point guard in 25-year-old Monte Morris.
The three of them don’t have the skill set of Paul, but all would are rotation pieces. Harris and Barton are very good 3-and-D players who not only could help the Thunder in the short-term, but would be valuable trade pieces at the deadline.
It’s quite a bit of depth for Denver to give up, but Barton missed the entire playoffs with injury, so the Nuggets do know they can be successful without him.
Would Denver be willing to mess around with a rotation that has had so much success, and grab Paul and his expensive contract?
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City would have to decide if this is the best return they could get for the All-Star.