NBA Trade Rumors: Denver Nuggets' MVP Should Be Shopped With Their Season On The Line
Denver Nuggets is hardly getting dragged in the NBA trade rumors. It's not because they do not have any tradeable asset. In fact, as a local publication puts it, the team has its own MVP who can start for any of the 30 teams in the league.
Danilo Gallinari is arguably Denver's best player right now. He averages almost 18 points per game, the best in the team, hauls 5.9 rebounds, and dishes out 2.8 assists. He is not in any NBA trade rumors but SB Nation's Denver Stiff suggests the team should let him go for a future draft pick since this season is already over for them.
"Should the Nuggets decide to play long ball, so to speak, and focus on building for 2018 and beyond with a supremely young roster that features Emmanuel Mudiay (19 years old), Jusuf Nurkic (21), Nikola Jokic (20), Barton (24) and Joffrey Lauvergne (24)," Denver Stiff wrote.
"Perhaps the time is now to part with their best player, knowing more losses means a better lottery selection, and accumulate even more draft picks and young players for the future. If that's the case, the Celtics - the NBA's experts at hoarding draft picks - are the best trade candidate, either as a direct trade partner or as part of a three-way deal."
Denver is not lacking for suitors for the 27-year old Italian forward. Boston Celtics reportedly inquired about Danilo Gallinari in July last year and might renew their interest as they still seek a scoring forward.
"Celts/Denver discussed Gallinari deal, but nothing doing as of now. Some conflicting talk from sources, but may want to keep an eye on this," Steve Bulpett of Boston Herald wrote.
Denver Stiff also wrote that Memphis Grizzlies and other teams might also be interested in getting the services of the 2008 6th overall draft pick.
"Out West, one has to believe that the scoring-starved Memphis Grizzlies would eagerly want to add Gallinari to a roster that outputs an NBA second-worst 96.2 ppg and have the mercurial Matt Barnes starting for them at small forward," it further wrote. "Sacramento Kings' head coach George Karl would likely salivate at the opportunity to again coach his former player rather than start Omri Casspi at power forward."
This is still an NBA trade rumor but it somehow makes sense for Denver Nuggets, depending on their plans for this season and the future.