A Lakers-Nuggets Trade That Both Sides May Appreciate

Just four days ahead of the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline, your Los Angeles Lakers still need to goose their offense.

The reigning champion Denver Nuggets, who'll be playing LA in Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night, have an asset that could really, really help Los Angeles. And no, I'm not talking about either of its two stars.

Although it's highly unlikely Denver would want to do anything to disrupt what's been perhaps the best or second-best (behind the mighty Boston Celtics) starting five in the league, the team could opt to shore up its depth in a deal with its West rivals.

While All-NBA center Nikola Jokic and star point guard Jamal Murray are no doubt off the table as trade chips, injury-prone, maximum-salaried small forward Michael Porter Jr. could probably be had if the price is right.

He's a fantastic, creative scorer (though not an amazing passer), and would help take some pressure off James offensively. The 25-year-old out of Missouri has been mostly healthy this season for the defending champs. Across 51 contests, the 6'10" forward is averaging 15.8 points on .471/.393/.778 shooting splits, seven rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 steals a night.

Porter is currently earning $33.4 million with the Nuggets. The Lakers wouldn't want to give up on James or Davis in a Porter deal, but would the team be amenable to moving on from Austin Reaves?

A trade package of Reaves (earning a bargain $12 million), forward Rui Hachimura ($15.7 million -- he can't defend smaller wings, so Denver may have to swap him and Aaron Gordon positionally) could help improve the Nuggets' depth, while also giving them two players without MPJ's long-term injury concerns. The Lakers could throw in rookie shooting guard Jalen Hood-Schifino or one of their underused backup centers (Christian Wood or Jaxson Hayes) to match the incoming money.

Given that Davis and James are old and health risks anyway, Porter gives the Lakers a great offensive young piece, with an All-Star upside, who'd be the best player in that deal. Is he slightly overpaid given his injury concerns? Perhaps, but the risk might just be worth it.