The Denver Nuggets have had a decent season so far, sitting at fifth in the Western Conference with a 16-13 record. However, they haven’t quite looked like the championship contenders they have been in recent years. Despite some struggles, their superstar center Nikola Jokić continues to play at an incredibly high level, arguably having the best season of his career—no small feat for a three-time MVP. Along with Jokić, Michael Porter Jr. is also enjoying a career-best season, but beyond those two, the rest of the Nuggets’ roster has not contributed significantly. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon have both battled injuries, and the team’s bench has been one of the least effective in the NBA.
Because of these issues, the Nuggets are expected to be active leading up to the February 6 trade deadline in order to improve their roster. One player they have been linked to is Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson. According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, the Nuggets are among the teams reaching out to Utah about Clarkson. The Jazz are reportedly looking for a promising young player and/or draft picks in any potential trade for the veteran guard.
In a possible deal, Denver could send Zeke Nnaji, Dario Šarić, and Hunter Tyson to Utah in exchange for Clarkson and veteran guard Patty Mills. With Tyson included in the trade, the Nuggets might be able to avoid giving up draft capital. Clarkson, who is averaging 15.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 40.9% from the field and 33.3% from three, has become one of the best sixth men in the NBA. His scoring ability would provide a much-needed boost off the Nuggets’ bench. Denver could also opt to start Clarkson, moving Christian Braun back to a bench role. Either way, adding Clarkson would give the Nuggets another reliable scorer while maintaining assets for a future trade involving another star player.
