The Nuggets’ decision to trade power forward JaMychal Green to the Thunder isn’t all about landing the No. 30 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted, it also gives the Nuggets some salary relief.
To recap, the Nuggets and Thunder agreed to a trade that will send Green to the Thunder for the No. 30 pick and a pair of TBD second-rounders. Green is expected to opt into his contract to help finalize the trade, as we relayed earlier (he has until June 20).
Once the deal is complete, new head of basketball operations Calvin Booth will have saved the Nuggets $20 million in salary and luxury tax, Wojnarowski wrote.
Booth, of course, took over for Tim Connelly, who left for the same position with the Timberwolves a few weeks ago. Booth previously had been the Nuggets’ GM before being promoted.
And already, he has pulled off a trade for the Nuggets. Now they own both the Nos. 21 and 30 overall picks, and there is always the possibility that they keep both. Or Booth could move on or both to move up in the draft — or given that the Nuggets are in win-now mode, package them in a deal for another veteran.
There is always the possibility Denver stays right where it is and adds two rookies with guaranteed deals to the roster, though that doesn’t seem to be the immediate plan. Along with reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets are expected to see Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. return from injuries next season.
But they will undoubtedly be looking to replace the toughness Green added to the frontcourt. For now, though, they can just enjoy the suddenly flexibility they were delivered by their new basketball man in charge.
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