Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Nuggets’ Jamal Murray To Cavaliers

An NBA trade proposal sending Jamal Murray from the Denver Nuggets to the Cleveland Cavaliers has been created. 

Murray and the Nuggets haven’t agreed to a contract extension yet, causing some rumors to circulate that a deal won’t happen. 

In the mock trade, the Cavaliers would acquire Murray and Peyton Watson, while the Nuggets would get Darius Garland. 

Murray will make $36 million next season in the final year of his contract. He signed a five-year, $195 million deal with the Nuggets in 2019. 

One of the top guards in the NBA, Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks last season while shooting 48.1% from the field, 42.5% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line. 

The Nuggets went 57-25 in 2023-24. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games but lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in seven games. 

Denver won the 2023 title against the Miami Heat in five games. 

Murray was the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Kentucky. He has career averages of 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks. 

Garland averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.1 blocks last season for the Cavaliers in 57 games while shooting 44.6% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 83.4% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $36.7 million next season.

Cleveland drafted Garland with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The 24-year-old, represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, has career averages of 18.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.1 blocks.

If this trade happened, the Cavaliers could have a starting lineup of Murray, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

The Nuggets, meanwhile, could start Garland, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic. 

The Cavaliers fired JB Bickerstaff as head coach this offseason and hired Kenny Atkinson, who signed a five-year deal.