There is no doubt that Luka Doncic is one of the top superstars in the league, and it is seldom that those players end up getting traded. However, we have seen players such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving get moved in recent memory, and it is not out of the question that Luka Doncic could be next on the list.
The Dallas Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving ahead of the trade deadline, hoping to make him the co-star that ends up helping Luka Doncic win the championship. However, the Dallas Mavericks have not been a good team, and there is a chance that Kyrie Irving will end up leaving in free agency.
If his co-star ends up leaving, Luka Doncic could request a trade as well, as it was previously reported that his future with the Mavericks franchise would depend on whether the team can retain Kyrie Irving. Obviously, if the Mavericks are unable to retain Irving, then perhaps Doncic will try to go somewhere he has a realistic chance of competing with a roster built around him.
There has been a lot of speculation from fans about Luka Doncic potentially teaming up with Nikola Jokic on the Denver Nuggets, especially after Doncic and his girlfriend were the only two non-family members that were invited to Jokic’s birthday party in February. It is quite obvious that the two superstars have a good relationship with one another, and perhaps that could result in them joining forces. There has also been some reporting that suggested that it is more likely that Luka Doncic will go to the Denver Nuggets, rather than the other way around.
In this article, we have created a potential trade scenario that involved Luka Doncic going to the Denver Nuggets. The package is centered around star Jamal Murray, and promising forward Michael Porter Jr.
Denver Nuggets Receive: Luka Doncic, Reggie Bullock
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Bruce Brown (Sign-And-Trade), Zeke Nnaji, 2029 First-Round Pick (DEN)
There is no doubt that this would be a wild trade to see from a fan’s perspective. Here is why both teams should consider making this deal, and how it could potentially work out for everyone involved.
Denver Nuggets Create A Title Contender With Luka Doncic And Nikola Jokic
Whenever there is a chance for a team to get a superstar-caliber player, that opportunity should be taken, as the potential reward far outweighs any risk. This would be a similar situation here, as Luka Doncic legitimately has the potential to become the best player in the world in the future. He is the sort of superstar that is worth trading multiple good players for.
In this deal, the Denver Nuggets would be sending out Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. as the main centerpieces to this deal. While both of those players are either All-Star caliber or have that potential, it makes sense to move them for Luka Doncic, as he and Nikola Jokic would be a championship-level duo.
Though the Dallas Mavericks could end up asking for Aaron Gordon in the deal, it is quite likely that the Denver Nuggets will retain him as he is a solid two-way player that fits well next to a Luka Doncic – Nikola Jokic duo. Reggie Bullock is included from the Dallas Mavericks’ end for salary matching purposes, while the Nuggets will sign and trade Bruce Brown to increase the value of their trade package. Depending on what Bruce Brown commands for his new contract, the Mavericks could end up needing to include another contract in the deal as well.
Luka Doncic would be a player that can also take some offensive responsibility away from Nikola Jokic, and there is no doubt that they would be an offensive powerhouse. Doncic would also give Jokic an elite perimeter shot creator to work with, and he is better in late-game situations than Jamal Murray. As of right now, Luka Doncic is putting up 32.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 8.2 APG for the Dallas Mavericks, and his production is absolutely worth the Denver Nuggets making a “Godfather offer” to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks Get A Solid Package For Luka Doncic
Though this package is not heavy on draft compensation, the Dallas Mavericks would definitely have a solid foundation from which to build their post-Luka Doncic team. They still have a number of their own future picks as well, and they can definitely remain competitive.
Jamal Murray is the key player the Dallas Mavericks would get in this deal, and he is currently putting up 20.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 6.1 APG for the Denver Nuggets. We have seen some guards such as Jalen Brunson blossom when given a bigger opportunity, and perhaps Jamal Murray can do the same thing. He would be the No. 1 option on the Dallas Mavericks, and his high-level scoring and playmaking suggest that he could be the best player on a playoff team.
Michael Porter Jr. is among the best 3PT shooting wing players in the league, and he is averaging 17.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.1 APG this season, while also shooting a blistering 42.0% from the 3PT range on 7.2 attempts. Though he plays a more limited role as a No. 3 option on the Denver Nuggets, he could end up being another player that does better from an individual standpoint if given the opportunity and touches to produce.
The Dallas Mavericks would also get Bruce Brown, Zeke Nnaji, and a first-round pick in this deal, which should be enough to get Luka Doncic. As mentioned previously, the team wouldn’t get many draft picks in this deal. But draft picks aren’t necessarily the only way of building a competitive team, and this deal would give the team a core that they could improve in the coming years.
This Deal Could Make The Denver Nuggets The Favorite To Win The Western Conference
This deal could potentially make the Denver Nuggets a powerhouse in the Western Conference, especially if they acquire some depth to put around Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. Building a team around two superstars is pretty straightforward, and as long as the Nuggets acquire 3PT shooting and defense from free agency or otherwise in this scenario, they’ll be set to be a good team.
The Dallas Mavericks would get a solid package for their superstar, and if things don’t work out, they could always trade Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. later on. It’ll be interesting to see if a deal with this framework ends up happening in the future, but it’s clearly not impossible.
Source: fadeawayworld
