{"id":741333,"date":"2026-05-22T20:24:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T20:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/741333\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T20:24:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T20:24:30","slug":"examining-potential-nuggets-trade-partners-for-murray-gordon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/741333\/","title":{"rendered":"Examining potential Nuggets trade partners for Murray, Gordon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, we broke down why Nuggets franchise cornerstones Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon can\u2019t be ruled out<\/a> of trade rumors this offseason as Denver seeks both salary relief and new hope for the team\u2019s future around Nikola Jokic.<\/p>\n

Now that we recognize Murray, Gordon and small forward Cam Johnson are the main candidates the Nuggets could trade for reasonably positive value, their offseason predicament also raises questions about what type of return they could get for Murray or Gordon in particular. Both players are 29 or older, with unfortunate injury histories and long-term commitments remaining on their current contracts.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re also extraordinary players. Murray was (in the opinion of this All-NBA voter<\/a>) comfortably one of the 10 best players in the league this regular season. Gordon is the epitome of an overused term that coaches love to preach: He is a star in his role, one of the most versatile forwards in the game when he\u2019s on the court.<\/p>\n

They both make sense as win-now pieces for teams looking to take an immediate next step toward contention. They probably don\u2019t make sense for most teams residing at the bottom of the league. (Johnson, on the other hand, could be reasonably appealing on an expiring contract to the vast majority of teams.)<\/p>\n

So who are the Nuggets\u2019 most likely trade partners, if they do make dramatic changes? Keep in mind that lot of deals might have to involve three or more teams due to salary-matching complications, and Denver\u2019s return on one of these players might not even come from the same team that\u2019s on the receiving end of Murray or Gordon. In any case, here\u2019s a speculative list of teams that could benefit from their skillsets, and some of the contracts those teams could offload. Consider it a place to start before you open up Spotrac\u2019s trade machine<\/a> \u2014 but remember, part of the Nuggets\u2019 goal will probably be to take back less salary than they send out.<\/p>\n

Potential Jamal Murray trade partners<\/p>\n

Houston Rockets: Man, does it look shaky when Kevin Durant has to initiate the offense out of a double-team at midcourt. The Rockets just went an entire year without a true point guard. Fred VanVleet is set to return from a torn ACL, but if they\u2019re worried about the residual effects and want to explore potential upgrades, Murray would be an obvious fit. That is, unless 21-year-old Reed Sheppard actually turns into the second coming of Steve Nash on a timeline that fits with the 37-year-old Durant.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates who could appeal to Nuggets (2026-27 salary): Fred VanVleet ($25 million, right to veto), Dorian Finney-Smith ($12.7 million), Clint Capela ($6.7 million), Tari Eason (RFA).<\/p>\n

Toronto Raptors: As uncomfortable as it is to picture Murray in any other uniform, this is the only one that would feel somewhat right. He receives a warm welcome from Toronto\u2019s fans every time the Nuggets play in his home province. The Raptors view Scottie Barnes as a superstar in the making, but he needs some offensive help after a first-round series in which his team struggled to score against Cleveland.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Immanuel Quickley ($32.5 million), RJ Barrett ($29.6 million), Gradey Dick ($7.1 million), Ja\u2019Kobe Walter ($3.8 million).<\/p>\n

Atlanta Hawks: They have a stacked defensive backcourt between Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but their offense ran through CJ McCollum at the end of playoff games this year. Murray could make them a better half-court team, partnering with another elite facilitator in Jalen Johnson.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: CJ McCollum (UFA), Gabe Vincent (UFA), Jonathan Kuminga ($24.3 million, team option), Corey Kispert ($14 million), Zaccharie Risacher ($13.8 million), Buddy Hield ($9.7 million).<\/p>\n

Orlando Magic: One of the most disappointing teams of 2025-26, Orlando is widely expected to try moving point guard Jalen Suggs this summer. The Magic might simply give the keys to Anthony Black if they feel content with the star power of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner on the wings. But even with that tandem and Desmond Bane, their offense hasn\u2019t escaped the bottom half of the league in years. Purely in terms of basketball fit, Murray would make a ton of sense here. But one of the biggest obstacles would be that Orlando\u2019s offseason motivations could also involve cost-cutting.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Franz Wagner ($41.8 million), Jalen Suggs ($32.4 million), Jonathan Isaac ($14.5 million), Goga Bitadze ($7.6 million), Tristian da Silva ($4 million).<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics: It\u2019s difficult to imagine the Celtics going after someone with Murray\u2019s max salary unless they decide the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown partnership has run its course. But if that is their decision, then pairing Tatum with a second option like Murray would be one less costly way to pivot than chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Jaylen Brown ($57.1 million), Derrick White ($30.3 million), Sam Hauser ($10.8 million).<\/p>\n

Dallas Mavericks: Old friend Masai Ujiri would be justified if he decided the Mavs have a miniature window for the next three seasons, before Cooper Flagg gets expensive. He\u2019s already a budding superstar one year into his career. If his upward trajectory proves to be anywhere near as exponential as Victor Wembanyama\u2019s, then the remainder of Murray\u2019s prime could fit the timeline of Flagg\u2019s rookie contract. Kyrie Irving is 34 and hasn\u2019t played in more than a year; with a new front-office regime in place, the Mavericks\u2019 commitment to him as a foundational piece is unclear.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Kyrie Irving ($39.5 million), PJ Washington ($19.8 million), Klay Thompson ($17.5 million), Caleb Martin ($10 million), Naji Marshall ($9.4 million), Max Christie ($8.3 million).<\/p>\n

Miami Heat:\u00a0Like Boston, Miami might have more ambitious pursuits in mind than Murray. But after years stuck in the middle, it feels like some sort of change is coming to an awkwardly built roster around defensive anchor (and 83-point scorer!) Bam Adebayo.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Norman Powell (UFA), Tyler Herro ($33 million), Andrew Wiggins ($30.2 million, player option), Davion Mitchell ($12.4 million), Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($5.9 million), Kel\u2019el Ware ($4.7 million), Kasparas Jakucionas ($3.8 million).<\/p>\n

Sacramento Kings:\u00a0No, they\u2019re not a contender by any means. But you never know what the Kings might do. Perhaps Vivek Ranadive is overcome with seller\u2019s remorse and wants to aggressively pursue a new star point guard after watching Tyrese Haliburton and De\u2019Aaron Fox thrive in the last three postseasons. One thing that would be appealing to Denver is the amount of 2027 expiring salary the Kings have on their books with trade candidates like Zach LaVine.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Zach LaVine ($49 million), DeMar DeRozan ($25.7 million), De\u2019Andre Hunter ($24.9 million), Keegan Murray ($24.1 million), Malik Monk ($20.2 million), Devin Carter ($5.2 million).<\/p>\n

\"AaronAaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates making a three pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter of game four of their NBA Playoffs series at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday, April 25, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)
\nPotential Aaron Gordon trade partners<\/p>\n

Charlotte Hornets: After a meteoric midseason rise to become one of the NBA\u2019s best offenses, Charlotte went out sad in the Play-In Tournament. The future is bright. The Hornets have every reason to believe they can compete with the best teams in the East next year. Gordon would be a clear upgrade from Miles Bridges at power forward, adding defensive toughness and championship experience to a young roster.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Miles Bridges ($22.8 million), Josh Green ($14.7 million), Grant Williams ($14.3 million), Tre Mann ($8 million), Pat Connaughton ($3.8 million, team option), Liam McNeeley ($2.9 million).<\/p>\n

Detroit Pistons: Maybe the Pistons can re-sign the aging Tobias Harris for an affordable price (he was already making $26 million) and trade for a star-caliber upgrade on the wing, like Trey Murphy III. But if those plans don\u2019t work out, Gordon is the type of player who could bolster their offense \u2014 both as a secondary ball-handler and spot-up shooter \u2014 without giving up any of the doggedness that became Detroit\u2019s identity as a flawed No. 1 seed.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Kevin Huerter (UFA), Duncan Robinson ($16 million), Isaiah Stewart ($15 million), Caris LeVert ($14.8 million), Marcus Sasser ($5.2 million).<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Lakers: Los Angeles would probably love to steal any of Watson, Johnson or Gordon from Denver. The hard part to imagine about this fit is a Denver fan favorite wearing the loathsome purple and gold of the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: LeBron James (UFA), Rui Hachimura (UFA), Luke Kennard (UFA), Jarred Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Jake LaRavia ($6 million), Marcus Smart ($5.4 million, player option), Dalton Knecht ($4.2 million).<\/p>\n

San Antonio Spurs: Similarly, it seems unlikely that Denver would trade a core player to one of its biggest adversaries in the Western Conference. But the Spurs could benefit from getting a little bigger on the wing around Wembanyama, and Gordon would be an outstanding four in their starting lineup. Another obstacle: The Spurs have so many talented young players on team-friendly contracts that it\u2019s difficult to see them wanting to part with, well, almost anyone on their 2026-27 roster. Gordon would make them older and more fragile in the legs.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Harrison Barnes (UFA), Keldon Johnson ($17.5 million), Luke Kornet ($10.5 million), Carter Bryant ($5.1 million).<\/p>\n

Phoenix Suns:\u00a0Phoenix seems fully committed to building around Devin Booker for the foreseeable future, and Gordon does fit his timeline. The Suns will have to get creative if they want to keep trending up after a pleasantly surprising seventh-place finish. The power forward position is an obvious hole in their roster.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Dillon Brooks ($21 million), Grayson Allen ($18.1 million), Royce O\u2019Neale ($10.9 million).<\/p>\n

Golden State Warriors:\u00a0There might not be a more desperate team to stay competitive short-term than Golden State. Age is just a number to the Warriors right now. They\u2019re reportedly preparing to pursue Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and anyone else they can get their hands on in an effort to stay relevant as the sun begins to set on Steph Curry\u2019s career. Gordon would look young and spry on this roster.<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: Moses Moody ($12.5 million), Al Horford ($6 million, player option), Brandin Podziemski ($5.7 million), Gui Santos ($4.6 million).<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Clippers:\u00a0An absolute wild card. Do they tear it down and start a rebuild around Darius Garland and the No. 5 pick? Or do they try to stay competitive after a 15th consecutive season above .500, the longest active streak in the league?<\/p>\n

Trade candidates: John Collins (UFA), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($16 million, team option), Derrick Jones Jr. ($10.5 million), Brook Lopez ($9.2 million, team option), Isaiah Jackson ($7 million), Kris Dunn ($5.7 million, non-guaranteed).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last week, we broke down why Nuggets franchise cornerstones Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon can\u2019t be ruled out…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":741334,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3781],"tags":[877,7,1828,7046,765,2102,301,187,3943,2292,766,123,292,1035,762,77,529,938,967,165,185,10510,252,6,253,302,66,933,409,693,574],"class_list":["post-741333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-denver-nuggets","tag-aaron-gordon","tag-basketball","tag-cam-johnson","tag-cj-mccollum","tag-colorado","tag-contract","tag-denver","tag-denver-nuggets","tag-denvernuggets","tag-devin-booker","tag-front-range","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-houston","tag-injury","tag-jamal-murray","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-kawhi-leonard","tag-kevin-durant","tag-kyrie-irving","tag-latest-headlines","tag-lebron-james","tag-miles-bridges","tag-more-nuggets-news","tag-nba","tag-nikola-jokic","tag-nuggets","tag-sports","tag-tobias-harris","tag-trade","tag-victor-wembanyama","tag-western-conference"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116620104027535393","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=741333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741333\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/741334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=741333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=741333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=741333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}