The Denver Nuggets have had an inconsistent season, but they’ve shown some positive signs recently. Nikola Jokić is having another MVP-caliber year, averaging a career-high 32.3 points, 13.6 rebounds (leading the NBA), and 10.2 assists. Despite sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference, Jokić is undeniably having one of the greatest regular seasons of all time. However, the Nuggets’ issue isn’t with their star power. The core of Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon is solid, but the team’s depth has diminished in recent years. The departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) has left a void in three-point shooting, and the Nuggets’ bet on Christian Braun and youth to fill that gap has not paid off. The team is currently taking the fewest three-pointers in the league, averaging just 30.5 attempts per game and shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc. Jokić has voiced his frustrations with the team’s shooting struggles, highlighting that, aside from Murray and Porter, most of the team’s shooters are inconsistent.
The Nuggets’ clear need is to surround Jokić with more reliable shooters, and this has sparked numerous trade discussions. One recent proposal, described as “wild and unlikely” by Matt Levine, suggests the Nuggets could trade Russell Westbrook to the Boston Celtics in a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls. In this deal, the Nuggets would receive veteran wing Torrey Craig, a career 35.4% three-point shooter, while the Celtics would acquire Westbrook, and the Bulls would take on young player Jaden Springer and a 2030 second-round pick.

While Craig could help address the Nuggets’ shooting woes, the trade has its flaws. For the Celtics, Westbrook doesn’t fit with their style of play, as they lead the league in three-point attempts, whereas the Nuggets are near the bottom. The Celtics have little incentive to trade for Westbrook, especially since he would likely see limited playing time with them. For the Nuggets, Westbrook’s poor shooting is not their biggest problem, and while he can still provide scoring and playmaking, moving him for Craig may not fix the deeper issues in their rotation. The Chicago Bulls, in contrast, might benefit from adding Springer as part of their rebuilding efforts.
Ultimately, while the Nuggets clearly need to make changes, this trade proposal may not be the solution. Denver needs to address its depth issues, especially in the backcourt, and ensure they don’t waste another year of Jokić’s prime as they pursue another championship.