With the 2015 NBA Draft nearly at the doorstep, trade rumors and suggestions are flying. Here are three scenarios from across the web that might could maybe possibly make sense for the Nuggets:
Scenario No. 1 – Nuggets & Knicks
From Bryan Gibberman, Crossover Chronicles
New York Knicks receive Ty Lawson and the seventh pick.
Denver Nuggets receive Jose Calderon, Tim Hardaway Jr. and the fourth pick.
Why it makes sense:
The Knicks get shot creation ability at the point guard position they desperately need with Ty Lawson and are able dump Calderon’s contract (runs through 2016-2017). Denver wants to dump Lawson and can guarantee itself Emmanuel Mudiay as their PG of the future or someone else of their desire jumping up to four. New York still gets one Mudiay, Justise Winslow, Willie Cauley-Stein or Mario Hezonja at seven.
Scenario No. 2 – Nuggets & Kings
From SI Wire
Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl is interested in a possible reunion with Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, sources tell SI.com’s Chris Mannix.
Sacramento is “eyeing Denver point guard Ty Lawson, according to sources, who thrived under head coach Karl in Denver,” Mannix reports.
Karl has an “intense desire” to trade All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday…
…Cousins, who turns 25 in August, has three years left on the max deal he signed in 2013. He had a career year this season, averaging 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, all career highs.
Lawson, 27, averaged 15.2 points per game last season, his lowest since he backed up Chauncey Billups in 2010–11, though he did average a career high 9.6 assists per game.
Scenario No. 3 – Nuggets & Celtics
From Greg Price, International Business Times
Ranking 27th in the league with 105 points allowed per game, the Nuggets are in need of better perimeter defenders as well as a shot blocker, which is why they’ve been linked to the likes of Duke swingman Justise Winslow and Kentucky big man Willie Cauley-Stein at No. 7.
But the Nuggets could dangle that No. 7 pick to a team eager to move up to snag either of those prospects, or another they’re afraid won’t be available when they’re on the clock.
One such team could be the Boston Celtics and the ever active general manager and team president Danny Ainge.
RealGM.com reports the Celtics are very interested in Texas center Myles Turner, but at No. 16 overall Boston’s afraid the near 7-footer might already be off the board…
…The Celtics have plenty of picks to offer potential trade partners. Through various trades, Boston could potentially own six first-round selections in 2016 and 2017 combined, any number of which could be enough to move up in this year’s draft.
Denver has big contracts on the books in 2015-16 with Lawson, Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler, but remains $23,548,629 under the cap, per sportrac.com, with the current 11-man roster. That gives them plenty of room to make a move – especially if a a trade partner is willing to engage for one of these high-dollar players.