Denver Nuggets = Buddy Hield

[Smash Williams]

Smash,

I would say, on a good team, Harris is a nice option off the bench... Will Barton is a career 30% 3pt shooter, and career 42% shooter from the field. He had a "big" year for Denver this year, averaging 14.4 points per game, but that is with a depleted Denver backcourt. He is also a better backup option.

And, why can't Jokic and Nurkic play together? It's not like Jokic is really a true center.. .

If I am Denver I trade Chandler and Faried, and bring in Barton and Harris off the bench at the 2/3 spots and draft Buddy if they can get him at #7.

Below is an interesting article about Jokic vs. Faried at the Power Forward spot.... In summary, Faried is horrible on defense, a HORRIFIC offensive player outside the paint, and he is undersized.

Jokic performed better on defense according to the numbers, and on offense is already a 33% 3pt shooter, and is a pretty solid shooter from most spots on the floor... On top of all that, Jokic has shown to be a tremendous passer. He has a bright future in front of him, very talented player. He was only a rookie too... Nurkic can shoot the jumper pretty well too, but he is mostly a banger.

Here are the games (only 3) where Jokic/Nurkic started together, and this is when they basically tanked and Galinari was out:

Jokic: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists playing next to Nurkic, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and 3 blocks...

Jokic: 18 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists playing next to Nurkic, who had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks

Jokic: 8 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists playing next to Nurkic, who had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks

https://milehighsports.com/nikola-jokics-future-is-at-power-forward/

The problem with playing Jokic and Nurkic together is that they're both best suited to play center. Neither is athletic enough that you enjoy a huge defensive boost by playing one at PF. Meanwhile, playing the two together doesn't juice up the offense. Jokic has a good range for a 5, but less so for a 4.

Take Faried out of the equation for minute. To me, it's a choice between Nurkic/Jokic or Jokic/other PF. I'd rather see Jokic starting at the 5 with a smaller, more athletic 4 who can shoot better than Faried. That provides much better offensive spacing than Nurkic/Jokic, and Jokic is also better suited at C defensively.

Jokic and Nurkic played 92 minutes together. That duo had an offensive rating of 96.2 (worse than the Sixers league-worst offensive rating of 96.6) and a defensive rating of 103.4, for a net rating of -7.1. That's a small sample with some noise, but I don't think it's a coincidence. Playing two bigs together typically gives teams a defensive boost at the expense of their offense. The Jokic/Nurkic lineup only provides league-average defense while killing Denver's offensive spacing, which is even more of an issue if you have perimeter players--such as a starting PG--who can't shoot.

I would start Jokic at C and Gallo at PF. That hurts Denver defensively, but it's a huge offensive boost. Athletically, Jokic and Gallo are better suited at C and PF instead of PF and SF, and they provide a ton of offensive spacing at C and PF. That opens up more minutes for Denver's glut of quality wings.

 

[Eielson]

I think his best option may be the Celtics. They could really use a guy like Buddy, so he might be able to get significant minutes early on a playoff team. Additionally, Stevens is a great coach, so I have faith he would know how to best utilize him. I don't like the Celtics, though, so I hope they don't get him.

I'm personally pulling for the Pelicans to grab him. I just don't think Buddy is going to be a franchise player in the NBA, so I'd rather not see him being forced to carry that weight. Davis and Buddy could really benefit from each other. At the same time, he's not going to get lost in an arsenal of young talent the way he possibly could in Minnesota. My only concern with the Pelicans is that they're a piss-poor run organization, but even franchises like the Clippers were able to benefit from the lucking into great players.

 

[Eielson]

Philly might not be a bad landing spot if the lotto balls don't fall LA's way.

 

[BCSooners]

I think his best option may be the Celtics. They could really use a guy like Buddy, so he might be able to get significant minutes early on a playoff team. Additionally, Stevens is a great coach, so I have faith he would know how to best utilize him. I don't like the Celtics, though, so I hope they don't get him.

I'm personally pulling for the Pelicans to grab him. I just don't think Buddy is going to be a franchise player in the NBA, so I'd rather not see him being forced to carry that weight. Davis and Buddy could really benefit from each other. At the same time, he's not going to get lost in an arsenal of young talent the way he possibly could in Minnesota. My only concern with the Pelicans is that they're a piss-poor run organization, but even franchises like the Clippers were able to benefit from the lucking into great players.

Celtics would be a perfect fit for buddy. Don't think buddy would be ideal for the Celtics.