The Denver Nuggets have endured a significant talent drain in the last two seasons after winning the 2023 NBA Championship. Key players such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Jeff Green have left the franchise with the Nuggets hoping that young players such as Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, and Peyton Watson can emerge as replacements internally.
While that could be a sound strategy, the team needs to compete for titles against other top teams who have been improving their rosters over the last two seasons. They already fell to the second round last year, and they need to maximize Nikola Jokic’s core as the Serbian center is turning 30 years old next season. Acquiring a familiar face who can bring reliable perimeter scoring might be the best way forward for the Nuggets.
Trade Details
Denver Nuggets Receive: Bogdan Bogdanovic
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Zeke Nnaji, Julian Strawther, Dario Saric, Vlatko Cancar, 2030 First-Round Pick (DEN)
The Nuggets will have to part ways with Julian Strawther, a 22-year-old swingman who they had high hopes for. But they add Bogdanovic to enhance other young players such as Braun and Watson. His shooting prowess and chemistry with Jokic have brought international success to the Serbian national team and this deal hopes to replicate that with the Nuggets.
The Nuggets Acquire A Much-Needed Sharpshooter
People are underestimating the gravity of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure from the Nuggets. He was the final piece to a built roster that put them over the hump for a championship in 2023. Hoping Christian Braun will emerge enough to be a replacement for him from day one is really audacious, though the Nuggets will definitely put him in a position to start next season. Braun averaged 7.3 points on 38.4% from three last season, so Denver will be hoping Braun can match that volume or efficiency.Â
Bogdanovic averaged 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season, shooting 37.4% from three on 8.1 attempts per game. He has been playing in an offensive system orchestrated by one player as well, so Bogdanovic might be one of the best available off-ball offensive complements any superstar player can ask for. Jokic and Bogdanovic know each other very well and are the leading options for their team internationally.Â
Bringing Bogdanovic’s familiarity into the locker room while relying on him to maintain his offensive production is a solid bet for the Nuggets. They got worse last season even with KCP on the roster, so expecting Braun to suddenly be enough of a difference-maker to not only maintain how Denver played but to improve on their second-round exit might be unfair. Playing behind Bogdanovic might be better for his development and the overall win-now prospects of the Nuggets.
The Hawks Add A Cast Of Players To Enhance Trae Young
The four players the Hawks receive in this deal all could have a role within the Hawks, as the team seems to be halfway between actively contending and rebuilding. They have the No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risascher but also have Trae Young as a win-now superstar point guard. Bogdanovic and Young as a backcourt provided defensive redundancies the Hawks couldn’t get over, with his departure opening the door for Kobe Bufkin or proposed new acquisition Julian Strawther to have a bigger role.
Strawther averaged 4.5 points last season. He’s a talented two-way prospect but has raw offensive skills which could come along nicely alongside Young in Atlanta. He’s the best returning player/prospect in this deal, as the Hawks will hope to generate future value out of him while deploying him as a multi-positional tool in the short term to aid his development.
The Hawks land two bigs in this proposed trade with Zeke Nnaji and Dario Saric. Nnaji averaged 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks last season, providing a big body that can have offensive versatility on the court. He’s not going to get an opportunity to develop behind Jokic, so the Hawks could be a destination where he can be more impactful. Saric averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds last season, being the biggest win-now player in this deal as a sweet-shooting big man.
Vlatko Cancar is unlikely to find a future on the Hawks, spending the better part of the last two seasons recovering from an ACL injury. He’s in the final year of his contract, which could lead to him being waived if this trade is completed.
What Grade Should This Trade Be?
The Hawks and Nuggets both take a risky move with this deal, as it could implode the continuity both franchises have built with the players in this deal. This could be a mutually beneficial trade for both franchises, though it might not be a home run for either.
Denver Nuggets: B-
The acquisition of Bogdanovic makes the Nuggets better without a shadow of a doubt. However, the Nuggets give up a lot in this deal for a 30-year-old shooter. Strawther has long-term potential while Nnaji is under a long-term cost-controlled contract. Even Saric was signed to add versatility to the frontcourt, with all these assets being lost in this trade.
Despite that, Bogdanovic is a ceiling-raiser for the Nuggets and could be an improvement on KCP offensively though matching his production defensively will be a challenge. This is where Braun can shine, as he has shown flashes of being a polished defensive player. If the Nuggets can find the rotational sweet spot with Braun and Bogdan, this deal could help the Nuggets return to the top of the West.
Atlanta Hawks: B+
In all honestly, the Hawks don’t seem to be headed anywhere with their current core. Moving off Bogdanovic’s long-term contract while receiving four players and a pick which conveys when Jokic is in his late 30s is a solid return for their shooting guard. The Hawks would move off him at the best value they can. Either the Hawks will be good next season, making Bogdan indispensable or they’ll be bad, which will reduce his value by a lot.
Maximizing that value while getting prospects who could develop into better versions of him is the best avenue for the Hawks, a team that’s gotten noticeably younger in recent seasons. Young is still just 25 years old, so the Hawks have the latitude to continue building a complementary roster around him for the next season or two before picking a final direction. Regardless, the receiving assets should only get better with time, making this a solid deal for the Hawks.
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