When news broke that the Denver Nuggets were interested in trading for Zach LaVine, it was easy to understand the appeal from Chicago’s perspective. The Bulls have struggled to move on from LaVine despite multiple attempts.
Finally, a team was willing to take on a high-priced, injury-prone player who, despite his challenges, is having a stellar season and would make an excellent fit alongside Nikola Jokic as a wing scorer and playmaker.
For the trade to work financially, however, the Nuggets would need to include Michael Porter Jr., a player who has become a favorite within the organization and is seen as a key piece alongside Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The Nuggets have publicly stated that they will not trade their 26-year-old forward. However, based on his recent remarks, Porter Jr. is well aware that the NBA’s business side frequently prevails.
When discussing a possible Bulls trade, Michael Porter Jr. is brutally honest.
LaVine and Porter Jr. are traded in the fundamentals of a LaVine-to-Denver deal. According to reports, Chicago is negotiating to reclaim Zeke Nnaji and his $32 million, four-year contract.
Although Nnaji hasn’t produced much for the Nuggets this season, it’s a different story when a 23-year-old big man on a very cheap contract plays for a team that is rebuilding, the Bulls. If that’s what eventually prevents a deal from happening, Chicago shouldn’t have a big problem with it.
However, Denver’s alleged reluctance to let go of Porter Jr. may be the bigger problem.
However, as he stated on DNVRNuggets Twitter, the (sort of) Missouri alum appears to be well aware of how things may change in the NBA:
They’ve contacted me and told me it’s all nonsense. Nothing important is happening.
“They don’t want to relocate me at this time. However, I am also aware that if they intended to relocate me, they wouldn’t notify me.”
Michael Porter Jr. on speculations of a move
Straightforward and truthful from one of Denver’s founding works.
The fact that Porter Jr. is having a terrific season of his own is also overlooked in the LaVine portion of the deal.
Through 28 games, the 6-foot-10 shooter is averaging 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and a career-high 2.8 assists. He is making 38.7 percent of his 6.0 three-point attempts per game and shooting 51.7 percent from the field on a career-high 13.8 attempts.
Porter Jr. would still be a 3-point shooter and floor spacer, but his stature would provide the Bulls a different dynamic. Even though he isn’t as athletic or a pure scorer as LaVine, he might be a better match for Chicago.