NBA Trade Deadline: Biggest needs and targets for each West contender

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have a top-five offense in the league but have been mired in inconsistency. Denver really misses Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee as they’ve really struggled to find the right mix of lineups when Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are off the floor. Denver might need to shake their roster up a little bit if they want to get back to Western Conference Finals this year.

Need: Bench scoring/defense

For a team with an MVP frontrunner and loads of talent, Denver seems to struggle in a ton of areas. Many would say the Nuggets need to address their defense (and I would agree) However, they won’t be able to solve all their defensive problems with one trade at the deadline.

One thing the Nuggets can do is find a way to improve their bench scoring and defense on the wing. Will Barton is a great scorer, but he’s wildly inconsistent on defense and has never been someone who can hit the catch and shoot at a high rate. Bringing in someone else that can be more consistent on defense, while at the same time can get you 30 points in any given night might be just what the Nuggets need for the season.

Solution: Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield might be the answer the Nuggets have been looking for. A great offensive player who hasn’t quite popped to the All-Star level that many thought he could, Hield might be on his way out of Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton are the future for the Kings, and it would be wise for Sacramento to shop Hield around.

Hield could play 15-25 minutes a night for Denver and provide some additional scoring, especially with Jokic and Murray getting a breather.  Hield almost exclusively a three-point shooter (he’s currently chucking up 10 threes a game and shooting at a 37% clip) but has certainly shown the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. This move would give the Nuggets a full 48 minutes of dynamic offense that could keep up with any team.

In order to get this trade Denver would likely need to trade Gary Harris. Denver this currently just middle of the pack defensively and moving Harris for Hield wouldn’t seem to help the defense – but I disagree.

Hield has been killed for his poor defense in the past, but I honestly believe that’s more of a Sacramento-issue, not just a Hield issue. Sacramento gives up 118.8 points per 100 possessions – that defense is equivalent to the Washington Generals or the NBA All-Star Game. Hield isn’t guarding his yard, but neither is anyone else on that team. I think with a new team and better coaching, Hield’s defense would greatly improve.

Hield might be expensive for Denver, but I think this trade would make Denver a super-offensive juggernaut. The idea of a Jokic-Murray-Hield-Porter Jr-Millsap lineup is salivating to think about. Make it happen, Denver!

Options: Kyle Lowry, Lonzo Ball, Hassan Whiteside