The NBA trade deadline comes later this week, and teams across the NBA will be busy looking to shake up their roster in the coming days.
One of those teams that will be active this week is the Denver Nuggets. According to the Denver Post’s Mike Singer, the Nuggets have expressed interest in trading for the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon and Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes.
Gordon is in his seventh season in the NBA, all with the Magic, and he’s matured into an excellent player over the years. Gordon is averaging 12.9 points, 2.5 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game over his career, and this season he is averaging 14.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game. Gordon has also taken a major leap as a shooter this season, shooting a career-best 39.3 percent from the three-point range this season.
Barnes has proven himself one of the best two-way wings in the league over the past few seasons. Barnes has been in the NBA for nine years with three teams, averaging 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game over his career. This year, Barnes is putting up 16.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 36.9 percent from the three-point range.
Both Gordon and Barnes would bring a defensive ability to the Nuggets team that could use pieces to improve on that end, ranking 16th in defensive ranking in the NBA with a 112.3. They’d also provide additional shooting to a team already fifth in the NBA in three-point percentage, holding a 38.8 percent as a team.
The Nuggets currently hold a record of 26-17 and are fifth in the Western Conference.
The NBA’s trade deadline is this Thursday, March 25, at 3 p.m. ET.
