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The Denver Nuggets didn’t plan on entering the 2026 offseason with uncertainty about their future.
After earning the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the expectation was for the Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets to make significant noise following two consecutive uneventful postseason performances.
Unfortunately, Denver failed to do so, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round and having no choice but to objectively assess their roster in the summer. Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh has a hunch that swapping Jamal Murray for an ex-Golden State Warriors ring-chasing star could pay dividends for the Nuggets.
“Kevin Durant never made sense on a roster without Fred VanVleet (ACL) and Steven Adams (ankle) healthy, and the (Kevin) Durant experiment in Houston (Rockets) may very well be over before it ever really began,” Haberstroh wrote Friday.
“At his age, Durant isn’t a massive upgrade defensively over Murray, but he helps lengthen the Nuggets, who are severely lacking in the athleticism department, especially with (Aaron)Gordon constantly lumbering.”
“By many measures, Durant was better than Murray this season and the 37-year-old’s contract ($6 million less than Murray next season) will also help Denver shave its payroll and provide flexibility as the team desperately tries to navigate the apron world.”
For clarity, Haberstroh’s trade idea would send Murray to the Rockets for Durant and a 2029 first-round pick.
It’s no secret Durant is seeking another championship before retiring. The Texas product joined the Dubs in 2016 following a crushing Western Conference Finals loss to Golden State as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Durant won two titles with the Warriors in the late 2010s, but hasn’t come close to that feat since then with the Brooklyn Nets or Phoenix Suns. If Durant believes his chances of going the distance with the Rockets are slim, we could witness another blockbuster deal involving the future Hall of Fame forward.
At age 37, Durant is still a highly efficient scorer who can take over games with his fluid shot-making (his hesitation pull-up has been nearly unguardable for years) and anticipatory skills, making him a trade target who would instantly elevate the Nuggets.
Durant has only appeared in one postseason game with the Rockets this season, but averaged 26.0 points per game on 52.0% field goal shooting and 41.3% three-point shooting.
While Murray will always be a Nuggets legend no matter what, replacing him with Durant in the offseason would be among the most rational moves the franchise could make.
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