Report: Calvin Booth explored trades involving Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.

According to NBA reporter Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, Calvin Booth explored trades involving Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. 

Murray and Porter Jr. are still on the Denver Nuggets. 

Meanwhile, Booth and Michael Malone were fired on Tuesday. 

“Booth believed the sacrifice of KCP and other, more significant pivots could be necessary to win a second championship,” Durando wrote. “He even explored trades involving Jamal Murray last offseason and Porter during this season, league sources told The Post.

Murray and Porter Jr. helped the Nuggets win the 2023 title against the Miami Heat. Both players have spent their entire careers in Denver. 

Murray is averaging 21.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season while shooting 47.5% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 88.5% from the free-throw line. 

Meanwhile, Porter Jr. is averaging 18.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 50.2% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc and 76.8% from the free-throw line. 

Malone and Booth didn’t have a good relationship. They created a toxic work environment in Denver, so ownership decided to fire both men. 

The Nuggets are 2-0 under interim head coach David Adelman. They beat the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies. 

Denver went 471-327 in the regular season and 44-36 in the playoffs under Malone. The Nuggets weren’t able to defend their championship last season. They lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs in seven games. 

Right now, the Nuggets are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. If they beat the Houston Rockets later today, they will clinch a playoff spot. 

There’s some pressure for Denver to have a long postseason run this season. Nikola Jokic is eligible to sign a three-year, $212 million extension this offseason and the assumption around the NBA is that he will sign the extension.

But if there’s even a slight pause in his decision-making, it will be devastating for the Nuggets