Mini-blockbuster move that netted a conference rival the Nuggets’ desired trade target

Mini-blockbuster move that netted a conference rival the Nuggets’ desired trade target

It goes without saying that the Nuggets must come up with some original ideas this offseason to bolster their squad.

Naturally, the objective is to return to and win another NBA championship, but it will not be an easy task.

The Nuggets squad is getting more and more expensive and difficult to maintain together, while the Western Conference is getting stronger and stronger.

Beyond the immediate concern of keeping their own players, primarily Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Denver must find methods to improve,

particularly with regard to their bench depth. This will be a very challenging goal to achieve due to financial constraints; they will only be

able to give minimum contracts, rare exceptions, late-round draft selections, and the trade market, regardless of whether they keep KCP.

Alex Caruso was one player whose name has been linked to trade rumors for years and who, at a (very) affordable price, would have been a fantastic fit for the Nuggets. Caruso has been one of the league’s top defensive players for the last three seasons while playing with the Bulls. Due to his low salary of under $10 million per season, he has been greatly sought after by rivals as a missing piece.

However, with Caruso’s last trade on Friday, the Nuggets’ fantasy is now officially over. Worse, he was moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the only team in the Western Conference standings this season to finish ahead of Denver.Caruso was acquired by the Thunder in a surprise trade for Josh Giddey, an Australian guard/forward who was heavily criticized.

Although Giddey has fallen out of favor in OKC, he still has unrealized potential that the Bulls might employ. He had to get moving and play as much with the ball as he could, which he couldn’t do with the Thunder.
But now, the Thunder, who had just won 57 games and secured the top seed in the West, have added one of the finest defenders in the league without even giving up a draft pick. They still have a ton of assets, and they probably have a few more tricks up their sleeves for the offseason.

The Nuggets really weren’t able to accomplish anything in this situation, and Caruso—or any player of that caliber—was always essentially a pipe dream. However, it still hurts to watch one of the team’s primary rivals sign a player of that caliber for that much money.

It serves as a simple reminder of how difficult it may be to succeed and win in the NBA. When we were discussing the possibility of a Denver dynasty a month ago, competing teams were making progress, and the Nuggets were waiting to see how things would work out.