KlayThompson Trade Rumors Reveal His Underestimated Value
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 28: Will Barton
Denver Nuggets for Will Barton + Jamal Murray
The Denver Nuggets are rebuilding through their young core and have developed several assets earned over the last few years. This long process allowed the Nuggets to get both assets and space under the cap to sign an All-Star player as Paul Millsap.
Counting on the improvement of Nikola Jokic, Denver could find in Klay Thompson the perfect fit to help them earn a playoff spot in a loaded Western Conference.
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For Golden State, the argument for a potential deal would be different. The Nuggets don’t have the same assets (for example) that the Celtics and Lakers to offer, but the trade could be interesting for both sides.
Will Barton is a good player, with a contract that runs through 2018. The shooting guard could sign with any team, but why not decide to join the best team in the league and play with Stephen Curry?
A sign-and-trade could be the perfect solution for everybody, with Barton called to share minutes with Patrick McCaw and Shaun Livingston. To complete the trade, Denver could add another player like Jamal Murray, still in his rookie contract and with big potential.
Also, in this case, this kind of trade can help the Warriors start an invisible rebuilding while the team is at the top, trying to develop a young core who will be ready to replace Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala when they near the end of their careers
With this deal, there are doubts consistent with other hypotheticals. With only one yea left on his deal, Thompson might decided the Nuggets are too far away from becoming a contender and decided to leave when his deal is up. At the same time, because the trade is complete, Will Barton will have to accept the sign-and-trade instead of exploring the free agency.
But it’s no sure thing that all sides would readily accept all these conditions.