The Denver Nuggets have maneuvered their way to a successful offseason since NBA free agency officially began on June 30, and they may still have another move or two to make.
Most likely, Denver will add another player in the margins to bring even more depth to a bench that now features the likes of Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.
However, the Nuggets also traded Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick (2032) to the Brooklyn Nets for the considerably less expensive Cam Johnson, who may actually be a better fit in the Nuggets' starting lineup than Porter was alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23).
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Denver could potentially make another trade, only this time on a blockbuster scale for four-time MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report authored a trade proposal on Wednesday, July 9, flipping James and his son, Bronny James, to the Nuggets in return for Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes and a 2028 first-round pick swap.
"This is another situation in which a team is swapping out youth for [James] entering his age-41 season. It is also another scenario in which said team might prefer this direction," Favale wrote. "Murray is set to begin his four-year, $207.8 million extension this coming season, and Watson is extension-eligible now. The Nuggets may welcome the extra long-term optionality that [James'] expiring deal would bring, especially with Christian Braun in line for a new deal."
James was a second-team All-Pro last season, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 70 games started.
The combination of James and Jokic, along with the other upgrades Denver has made this offseason, could potentially put the Nuggets in position to knock off the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who are currently massive favorites to repeat heading into the 2025-26 campaign.