Denver Gets: 8th overall pick, Justin Holiday

New York Gets: 13th overall pick, Emmanuel Mudiay

Why Denver Trades:

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:

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