Denver Nuggets NBA Trade Rumors 2017: Raptors, Clippers Keeping an Eye on Nuggets Forward Danilo Gallinari
The Denver Nuggets have finally made their move as they look to build the team around Serbian center Nikola Jokić. Jusuf Nurkić was the Nuggets' starting center heading into the season, but it's now quite clear that Jokić was the better player. Nurkić was traded to the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Mason Plumlee on Sunday, but it looks like the Nuggets aren't done tinkering.
ESPN's Marc Stein has reported that the Nuggets may also move sharpshooting forward Danilo Gallinari before the trade deadline and the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers are among teams monitoring his availability.
Apparently, the team is looking to trade him away right now because they believe he will opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. Gallinari has a player option worth $16.1 million for next season.
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He is currently leading the Nuggets in scoring, but he hasn't played since Feb. 1 due to a groin injury and he has been plagued with injuries throughout his career.
The Raptors are struggling right now, so now may be the right time to make a move to improve their roster. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are proven scorers, but they don't really have anyone else who can shoulder the scoring load. Jonas Valanciunas will have a huge game now and then, but he can't score at a high rate consistently. With Gallinari, the Raptors should find the answer to their problems, and he's clearly an upgrade over their other forwards.
Meanwhile, the Clippers can always use another player that can help them get over the hump. He'll give the team another outside threat and he can start at the small forward position. When Blake Griffin sits he can also move to the power forward spot and space the floor for DeAndre Jordan to operate inside.
Both teams can upgrade their rosters with Gallinari. The question is, are the Nuggets really going to trade him?
