Nuggets Acquire 2023 Second-Rounder From Thunder in Trade of Picks

The Nuggets and Thunder have agreed to a trade involving multiple draft picks, including one in the 2023 NBA Draft at the end of the month, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

As part of the deal, the Western Conference-champion Nuggets will receive this year’s No. 37 overall selection from the Thunder. Along with that, Denver gets the least favorable of Oklahoma City’s 2024 first-round picks, as well as a 2024 second-rounder, Wojnarowski added.

In exchange, the Thunder will receive Denver’s 2029 first-round pick, per Woj. That pick will have some protections on it.

As of now, the Thunder still own four first-rounders in 2024. Along with their own pick, they control picks belonging to the Rockets (assuming it lands outside the top four), the Jazz (outside the top 10), and the Clippers.

They also are owed the least favorable of the picks between the Hornets and Timberwolves in the 2024 second round — which is among those being sent to the Nuggets in this reported agreement.

As noted by Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors, the Nuggets landed shooting guards Christian Braun and Peyton Watson outside the top 20 last year. Also, they drafted Nikola Jokic at No. 41 overall back in 2014.

So getting the No. 37 pick gives Denver an opportunity to add talent to the roster without guaranteeing salary. The Nuggets also own the No. 40 pick in this year’s draft.

This marks the second straight year in which the Nuggets and Thunder have made a trade related to the draft, as Denver sent forward JaMychal Green to OKC in a deal that delivered the No. 30 pick last June.

As for the latest trade, ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted that the Nuggets are a “tax team entering the offseason and have limited means adding to their roster outside of the draft and veteran minimum exception.” 

He added that the Thunder are taking “a quality over quantity approach.”