The Nuggets must make 1 deal with the 2025-26 NBA trade season

The Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship in 2023. In the two seasons since then, Denver has fallen, largely due in part to a lack of depth.

The team solved that problem in the offseason swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnsonand then add Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas. That led to the best start in franchise history, but Denver’s depth is being tested again. Aaron Gordon and Christian Brown are currently on the sideline for extended time due to injury, forcing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to return to the heroic ball.

The Nuggets may have to make a trade, and while they are limited in what they can send, they could make a deal with the contenders Los Angeles Clippers for Chris Paul.

The Nuggets could trade for two Clippers guards

The Nuggets get: Chris DunnChris Paul

Clippers get: Zeke Nnaji, 2032 second round pick

The Nuggets have next to nothing in terms of trading draft picks. They don’t have many tradable contracts other than their key players, who they won’t be moving on either. Therefore, the Nuggets are unlikely to make waves up front NBA trade deadline.

However, a trade should be made with the Clippers. Paul, one of the best point guard in NBA historyis far from the Clippers. The team sent him home due to his conflict with Ty Lue and the Clippers organization as a whole. Pavle retires at the end of the season, and he certainly doesn’t want to go out this way.

The Nuggets could offer Paul a chance to compete for his first championship during his retirement tour. The Nuggets also have a need at point guard. The only point guard behind Jamal Murray on the depth chart is Jaylen Pickett, who has forced Bruce Brown to carry the ball more.

Paul and Jokic are probably the two smartest NBA players when it comes to basketball IQ. Together, the Nuggets would win games on the cerebral aspect of the sport alone. The team would also have a lot of playmaking potential. Paul still has something left in the tank, too The Nuggets are one of his top dogs.

Denver would also add Chris Dunn to this deal. Dunn is a defensive-minded guard who has come into play in recent years as he has discovered the 3-point shot. With this deal, the Nuggets would ensure their depth remains strong through a grueling 82-game season. Backcourt depth would go from being Denver’s biggest weakness to being a huge strength.

Would the Clippers trade with the Nuggets?

The Clippers and Nuggets have had bad blood for years. Most recently, Denver defeated Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs last season in seven games. This would make a trade between the two franchises somewhat surprising, but it doesn’t appear the Clippers have been offered anything significant for Paul, and they’d rather get something for him than nothing.

The Clippers are 6-20 and in second to last place in the Western Conference. This season has been a disaster. The Clippers are one of the oldest teams in the NBA and need to start trading everyone of value to rebuild for the future. Zeke Nnaji hasn’t had much money since being drafted in the first round, and he doesn’t have a great contract, but the Clippers might hope he can reach his first-round potential after a change of scenery.

Additionally, Nikola Jokic could be at or near retirement age by 2032, when he would be a second-round pick in this contract. If Jokic isn’t of the same caliber by then, the Nuggets’ pick could be near the end of the first round. This trade return is weak, but it’s better than letting go of Paul entirely. Losing Dunn would hurt some, but the Clippers need to blow things up.