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Trade Proposal Adds Jamal Murray Backup, Fulfills Nikola Jokic’s Wish!

With the Denver Nuggets looking to strengthen their supporting cast around stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray after falling short of a title repeat, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey has proposed a trade that could have a significant impact next season.

Denver Nuggets Receive: Vasilije Micić
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Zeke Nnaji

Acquiring Micić could provide the Nuggets with a seasoned backup for Murray, particularly if Reggie Jackson opts out of his $5.2 million player option to seek a larger contract elsewhere.

Micić’s addition could address a critical weakness for the Nuggets—their bench scoring, which was notably lacking in the playoffs when Jokic rested.

“Beyond adding one of Nikola Jokic’s countrymen, this deal would give Denver something that it has desperately needed throughout the Jokic era: a steady creator when the big man is off the floor,” Bailey wrote.

In the playoffs, the Nuggets were outscored by 20.1 points per 100 possessions when Jokic was off the court, according to Basketball Reference.

The 30-year-old Micić averaged 7.0 points and 4.4 assists in his first NBA season, playing for both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Charlotte Hornets after a decade in Europe. When LaMelo Ball suffered an ankle injury, Micić started in 21 games for the Hornets, averaging 11.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds.

Bailey also noted that the 23-year-old Nnaji “could still develop into an interesting pick-and-pop partner with LaMelo Ball,” an opportunity unlikely to materialize in Denver due to his limited playing time.

Nikola Jokic Wants Vasilije Micić in Denver

Trading for the Serbian national team point guard would also fulfill Jokic’s wish to play with his compatriot.

In 2022, Yahoo Sports’ NBA insider Jake Fischer reported for Bleacher Report that “Jokic has been said to be a driving factor in Denver’s interest to obtain the [2021] EuroLeague MVP.”

Micić expressed humility over Jokic’s desire to team up in the NBA.

“I cannot say that I am such a close friend with Nikola [Jokic] because he lives in his own world. He is such a unique person, first of all. He is such a humble guy and I cannot understand how he manages that, how he handles that attention that he has because he is the best player in the world,” Micić told BasketNews in June 2022.

Although the Thunder, who acquired Micić’s rights from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Al Horford trade, brought him to the NBA on a multi-year deal, Micić still holds Jokic in high regard.

“He makes such a small country like Serbia so recognizable and so famous and I am just trying from the shadow to support his achievements and make it even bigger,” he added.

Nuggets’ Offseason Moves to Cater to Nikola Jokic

With the Nuggets projected to be a second-apron team, their options for upgrading the roster are severely limited unless they trade one of their stars. However, the Nuggets are committed to investing heavily with Jokic on the team.

“You have a responsibility to him [Jokic],” Denver president Josh Kroenke said at the Nuggets’ exit interview.

With the Nuggets unable to send more money in a trade due to second-apron restrictions, general manager Calvin Booth hinted at improving the roster on the margins.

“Obviously, maybe in our top seven, we can use a little bit more talent,” Booth said at the team’s postseason press conference. “Maybe there’s a way to upgrade one or two positions. But I don’t see anything that’s, like, crazy out of sorts for our roster.”

The Nnaji-Micić trade proposal from Bailey aligns with these constraints and the new CBA, as Nnaji’s salary ($8.8 million) exceeds that of Micić ($7.7 million).