Trade: JaMychal Green to OKC

[Roy H.]

The Denver Nuggets are trading forward JaMychal Green and a protected 2027 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 30 pick in this month's NBA draft and two future second-round picks, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Nuggets now have the Nos. 21 and 30 picks in the draft and the Thunder have Nos. 2, 12 and 34.

Green is expected to exercise his $8.2 million contract for 2022-2023. The deal gives Denver the flexibility to use a $6.4 million tax mid-level exception or an $8.2 million trade exception this offseason. The Nuggets expect to be a tax-paying team. Oklahoma City, on the other hand, has $31 million in cap space to absorb Green's salary.

[slamtheking]

I remember not too long ago some people here were ready to give up the farm to get this guy.  now he's getting salary dumped by Denver. 

[Celtics2021]

I’d be happy to target Green as a buyout guy in February.

I wonder what the protections are on that 2027 pick, to be giving up #30 and two future seconds while taking on the salary.

[Moranis]

Depending on the protections, I can see the appeal for the Nuggets in getting the extra 1st this year as opposed to the future.  Gives them more options in the draft.

[Roy H.]

Depending on the protections, I can see the appeal for the Nuggets in getting the extra 1st this year as opposed to the future.  Gives them more options in the draft.

I think they’ll try to dump that pick, just because they don’t want to pay tax on that salary.

[Moranis]

Depending on the protections, I can see the appeal for the Nuggets in getting the extra 1st this year as opposed to the future.  Gives them more options in the draft.

I think they’ll try to dump that pick, just because they don’t want to pay tax on that salary.

Perhaps, but they got 3 picks for Green and the 27 protected 1st i.e. pick 30 and 2nd round picks in 23 and 24.  Obviously they are dumping Green's salary, but I just don't see this as a salary dump trade in the traditional sense.  They now have 21 and 30 in the upcoming draft and 2 extra future 2nd rounders.  Gives them a lot more ammunition to trade, which is what I think they intend to do.  Now whether that trade is moving up in the draft or using the picks along with the trade exceptions they have to upgrade the roster, is yet to be seen.  Green was a rotation player for them this year, but with MPJ and Murray coming back, I think he'd be squeezed out some, so I see why they'd do it.  The Thunder didn't need the pick this year and would rather get one down the line, which makes sense for them.   

[slamtheking]

Depending on the protections, I can see the appeal for the Nuggets in getting the extra 1st this year as opposed to the future.  Gives them more options in the draft.

I think they’ll try to dump that pick, just because they don’t want to pay tax on that salary.

Perhaps, but they got 3 picks for Green and the 27 protected 1st i.e. pick 30 and 2nd round picks in 23 and 24.  Obviously they are dumping Green's salary, but I just don't see this as a salary dump trade in the traditional sense.  They now have 21 and 30 in the upcoming draft and 2 extra future 2nd rounders.  Gives them a lot more ammunition to trade, which is what I think they intend to do.  Now whether that trade is moving up in the draft or using the picks along with the trade exceptions they have to upgrade the roster, is yet to be seen. Green was a rotation player for them this year, but with MPJ and Murray coming back, I think he'd be squeezed out some, so I see why they'd do it.  The Thunder didn't need the pick this year and would rather get one down the line, which makes sense for them.

upgrading the roster would be the likely plan -- need to capitalize on Jokic's talent level now and based on how things played out in the Western conference playoffs this year, Denver has to feel that with an improvement to Jokic's supporting cast they have a real shot at getting to the finals if not a championship