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The Shocking Trade Idea Where The Denver Nuggets Signed another NBA star from The Suns
The Denver Nuggets could engage the Atlanta Hawks in a blockbuster trade deal that involves NBA champion Jamal Murray.
The Denver Nuggets are desperately searching for the right players to help them get back to the NBA Finals since they fell in the second round last season to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will not help their championship aspirations, but perhaps looking for a blockbuster trade will. Jamal Murray was critical to their 2023 championship run but struggled last season with the Nuggets in the playoffs (20.6 PPG on 40.2% FG and 31.5% 3-PT FG) and also in the Olympics in Paris (5.7 PPG on 33.3% FG).
On a salary that pays him over $36 million in 2024-25, perhaps the Nuggets could look for some fresh blood at point guard. The man in question is All-Star Trae Young. Young of the Atlanta Hawks is one of the best offensive players in the NBA and the Nuggets could negotiate a trade to acquire him. The Hawks believe in their young core of No. 1 overall pick Alexandre Sarr and the budding Jalen Johnson, so a new leader in Jamal Murray would be a welcomed addition.
This trade sees Trae Young leave Atlanta and join forces with superstar Nikola Jokic while the Hawks make a drastic change to their starting lineup. While we won’t often see star point guards switch teams in the modern NBA, let’s break this deal down and give it a grade.
The Denver Nuggets have thrived with Jamal Murray alongside Nikola Jokic, forming one of the NBA’s most dynamic duos. However, acquiring Trae Young presents a unique opportunity to elevate their offense to new heights. Young is an offensive juggernaut, averaging 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game in the 2023-24 season. His ability to create shots for himself and others is unmatched, making him a perfect fit alongside Jokic, who thrives with playmakers around him.
While Murray was critical in the Nuggets’ 2023 championship run, his recent playoff struggles and poor shooting performances at the Olympics raise concerns about his long-term fit as the team’s primary ball-handler.
At the same time, Murray is a free agent after the 2024-25 season and he will likely demand a max contract worth over $200 million so the Nuggets might not want to commit that amount of money to a player who hasn’t made an All-Star Team by the age of 27, as good as he is. Committing that amount of money to a younger player with more star power seems like the better option for a title-contending team that has an all-time great in Nikola Jokic.
