A new report on the Denver Nuggets potentially acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Everything is on the table for the Denver Nuggets as they look to get back to championship form after a disappointing season.
After winning the NBA championship in 2023, the Nuggets have failed to make it out of the second round in the following three seasons. This past season may have been their most disappointing season yet as they lost in six games in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves despite the Timberwolves missing Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo from the start of game four on.
Nuggets executive Josh Kroenke said that short of trading Nikola Jokic, everything is on the table for the Nuggets in the offseason.
Giannis To Denver?
CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn pondered the idea of the Nuggets making a move to acquire Giannis, but didn't seem sold on it.
"Denver could make the money work on some sort of Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma deal, but I'm not sure what that really accomplishes for anyone," he wrote.
Quinn had Denver ranked 20th among teams to potentially acquire Giannis in his thought exercise.
Giannis is reportedly looking to stay in the Eastern Conference and join a title-contending team. The Nuggets fit only one of those options, though it is unclear whether the Bucks front office will give Giannis what he desires or take the best deal for the franchise moving forward, even if that means sending him to the Western Conference, where he wouldn't be able to torture them.
Should Denver Do It?
The idea of Giannis and Jokic together is a scary proposition for any opposition. They are widely considered to be two of the top five players in the league, though Giannis' stock may have slipped this season due to injuries that limited him to just 36 games.
In trading Gordon and Murray though, the Nuggets would be giving up the two players that Jokic has the most chemistry with. He has a special connection with both men that can only be built through reps in the gym and game situations.
There could be other ways for Denver to acquire Giannis without giving up both Murray and Gordon, but one would likely have to be involved to make the money work. Given that Denver doesn't have much in future draft capital and only Peyton Watson as an enticing young player, it would be hard for Denver to make the best offer.