What the Nuggets Avoided by Steering Clear of the Kevin Durant Trade Drama
While the idea of seeing Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant playing together is undoubtedly exciting, the Denver Nuggets made a smart move by not getting caught up in the Durant trade frenzy. On the morning of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, headlines were dominated by Durant’s trade to the Houston Rockets. In return, the Suns received Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, the 10th overall draft pick, and five second-round picks.
Interestingly, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Denver had quietly emerged as a “wild-card” contender in the Durant sweepstakes. While the Rockets, Timberwolves, and Heat were the main teams engaged in negotiations, several surprise teams, including the Nuggets, were also involved.
A Trade That Would Have Cost the Nuggets Too Much
Although adding a talent like Durant is always tempting, the cost for Denver would have been far too steep. To make salaries work, any deal would have likely been built around Michael Porter Jr., and Denver would still have needed to offload over $16 million more in contracts. That likely would’ve meant sending players like Zeke Nnaji and Dario Saric—both of whom have limited trade value—just to try and balance the financials.
The Suns would almost certainly have demanded a package involving young talents such as Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, DaRon Holmes II, and possibly Denver’s only remaining tradeable first-round pick in 2031 or 2032. In effect, the Nuggets would have been giving up four or five valuable assets for one aging superstar.
Given Denver’s existing struggles with roster depth, salary cap limitations, and minimal draft assets, a trade for Durant would have only worsened all of those problems. Sure, the starting lineup might look incredible, but the bench would be decimated. The result would be an older, top-heavy team with no flexibility and no safety net.
Durant’s Age and Contract Raise Red Flags
Although Durant remains a high-level player, he’s no longer the unstoppable, MVP-caliber force he once was. At 36, with free agency looming after next season, he’s also seeking a lucrative two-year extension that would keep him among the league’s highest-paid players well into his late 30s.
There’s also no guarantee he’d even agree to re-sign in Denver. If he didn’t, the Nuggets could have given up a treasure trove of players and picks for a one-year rental. While a similar gamble worked out for the Toronto Raptors with Kawhi Leonard, who delivered a championship before departing, they’ve been rebuilding ever since.
Too Risky for a Team in Jokic’s Prime
With Nikola Jokic in his prime, the Nuggets can’t afford to take such a huge gamble. Despite offseason changes to the coaching staff and front office, the organization appears committed to maximizing its current window for another championship run. While it’s intriguing that they even entertained the Durant possibility, going all-in for a short-term rental just doesn’t align with long-term success.
This postseason has made it clear: teams win with depth, balance, versatility, and youth. A Durant deal would have taken Denver in the opposite direction. As thrilling as a Durant-Jokic pairing sounds, the risks involved could have seriously jeopardized the franchise’s future—and possibly signaled the start of a decline during what should be Jokic’s best years.
