It only takes one.
That's the refrain that one needs to repeat again and again when discussing any transactions in the National Basketball Association. Even things that seem impossible can come to pass, because in the end, in only takes one.
One team to meet a free agent's contract demands. One team to sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet. One team to reach for a draft prospect every other team knows is a bust. And one team to trade for a player who seems to be untradeable.
It appears that the Denver Nuggets might just be that one team.
The Denver Nuggets are looking for a trade
Sam Amick and Tony Jones of The Athletic reported Tuesday evening that the Denver Nuggets are actively canvassing the league for a significant trade. Their goal is to get another offensive creator to lessen the load on reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and reignite a team that hopes to contend but has been mired in mediocrity to start the season.
The list of names that the Nuggets are considering is wide-ranging, including small guards and burly centers. Jordan Poole and Jonas Valanciunas from the Washington Wizards. Cameron Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets. De'Andre Hunter of the Atlanta Hawks. Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz.
And Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls.
The Athletic reports that "the focus on LaVine in recent discussions is significant" and that the Nuggets see LaVine as a wing scorer who can alleviate some of the burden on Jokic, who is having another all-time season but laboring under career-high minutes and shot attempts. Jokic is at his best coordinating the offense, but with Jamal Murray struggling to start the season the franchise sees room for another on-ball scorer in the lineup.
It only takes one.
Could the Bulls trade LaVine to the Nuggets?
A trade for Zach LaVine has to be built around Michael Porter Jr. Aaron Gordon and Murray signed extensions over the offseason and are ineligible to be traded, while Jokic is obviously not going anywhere. There isn't enough salary left on the roster to get to LaVine's number without including Michael Porter Jr.
The onetime No. 1 player in the country as a high-school player, Porter has been much maligned for his max contract when he hasn't ascended to the level of All-Star. Yet he is one of the league's elite shooters (career 40.8 percent from 3-point range) and has excellent size at 6'10".
What's more, free-agent NBA analyst Zach Lowe highlighted on X immediately after the rumors broke that Porter is having an underrated season and taking on a larger and more effective role as Murray has struggled. He is not simply dead salary use to match LaVine's deal.
Denver has long been higher than most rival front offices on LaVine...But...MPJ has also had a probably slightly underrated all-around season, getting to the bucket a bit more/making some tougher plays. Very interesting few weeks coming up for Denver. https://t.co/1IN2k9xcIa
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) December 18, 2024
For a Bulls team that hasn't had a compelling forward since Jimmy Butler was traded, it's a fascinating start to building a trade package. The Nuggets would need to add at least another $7 million to the deal, which would mean either Zeke Nnaji would also be heading to Chicago or the combination of Dario Saric and one of their younger players.
There are a lot of details that would need to be worked out. There are other teams that will try to market their offense-first players to Denver. The Bulls have to actually decide to trade LaVine without getting a superstar return.
Yet maybe, just maybe, they have found the one team in the NBA willing to trade positive value for LaVine. Maybe, just maybe, the player no one thought that the Bulls could ever trade is going to be traded.
For the Chicago Bulls, they may finally be free of the unending Zach LaVine trade saga. That would be a shocking development, but perhaps the Bulls should have expected that some team would talk themselves into LaVine.
Someone always does. After all, it only takes one.