Denver Gets: 8th overall pick, Justin Holiday
New York Gets: 13th overall pick, Emmanuel Mudiay
Why Denver Trades:
Nuggets Depth | ||
Nikola Jokic | Mason Plumlee? | Roy Hibbert? |
Danilo Gallinari? | Kenneth Faried | Darrell Arthur |
Wilson Chandler | Will Barton | Juan Hernangomez |
Gary Harris | Malik Beasley | Justin Holiday? |
Jamal Murray | #8 Overall Pick | Jameer Nelson |
The Emmanuel Mudiay experiment has not worked for the Denver Nuggets. In two years with the team, he has shot 36.9%, averaged 3.5 turnovers per 36 minutes, and accounted for -1.9 win shares. Holiday, on the other hand, is coming off a fair year; he played all 82 games, and shot 35.5% from three. Holiday is a lengthy 6’6″ 185 pound perimeter defender.
For a team that finished dead last in defense, that cannot be overlooked. Denver loses Mudiay’s potential at point guard, but they get that right back with Jamal Murray, and the 8th selection – where one or more of Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith, De’Aaron Fox, or Lonzo Ball will be available.
Why New York Trades:
Knicks Depth | ||
Willy Hernangomez | Joakim Noah | Marshall Plumlee |
Kristaps Porzingis | Kyle O’Quinn | 13th Overall Pick |
Carmelo Anthony | Lance Thomas | Maurice Ndour |
Courtney Lee | Mindaugas Kuzminskas | Sasha Vujacic? |
Emmanuel Mudiay | Chasson Randle | Ron Baker? |
Derrick Rose is as good as gone. He’s an unrestricted free agent this off-season, and he has not worked out with New York. Brandon Jennings left midway through last season. New York needs a franchise point guard. Sure, they could take their guy with the 8th pick, but why not get two players with lottery potential (Mudiay was the 7th overall pick in 2015) for one?
There will be many high potential guys available at 13th, and they are giving up a free agent, Justin Holiday, to get Mudiay and the 13th pick. Mudiay was not a positive impact player for Denver, but he does have the tools (6’5″) and he has been putting up a fair 12.0 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game for his first two seasons.
? = Free Agent