WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets: 3 potential trade targets this summer

by James Siegle Follow @jsiegle23
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Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets boast a rock-solid core, yet they may be a piece away from legitimate title contention. Who could they trade for this summer?

The Denver Nuggets are officially on the right track, completing one of the faster turnarounds in NBA history after narrowly missing the postseason in 2017-18. The squad was poised for home-court advantage in the playoffs for the second straight season when play was suspended.

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Nikola Jokic leads the way with 20.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per contest this season, shooting 52.8 percent from the field. He’s already quite possibly the best passing big man of all time, and his ability to elevate the play of teammates is a great building block.

Jamal Murray is averaging 18.8 points and 3.9 assists on a career-high 45.5 percent shooting. He’s shown himself to be a lethal second scorer and runs a strong pick-and-roll with Jokic.

Will Barton has bounced back nicely after a disappointing 2018-19 campaign, averaging 15.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest as a Swiss-army knife attacker. Michael Porter Jr. has flashed serious potential if he can find his way into head coach Mike Malone’s rotation.

There’s much to like on this roster, no question. But to compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy in anything other than dark horse fashion, it seems the team might need another piece. After all, opposing Western Conference pairings include: LeBron James–Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard–Paul George, and James Harden–Russell Westbrook.

Denver’s own tandem of Nikola Jokic–Jamal Murray lags behind these superstar duos. The supporting cast of Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Jerami Grant and Monte Morrris could perhaps swing the pendulum, but no one among this complementary group has been consistent offensively this season.

Beating the Western Conference’s best in a playoff series and reaching the Finals may require Denver to obtain a third star.

And while Michael Porter Jr. could someday fill the role, this might not come anytime soon, as Malone has been tentative to play him.

Could this be the summer Denver finally pulls the trade trigger?

Let’s check out the best options:

Next: No. 3

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