Grade the trade: 3-team pitch reunites Hawks' Trae Young with childhood friend

Nuggets reset on wings with Hawks veteran swingman, Magic forward in 3-team trade proposal

The Nuggets got a rude awakening in the postseason this year. They brought back the majority of their roster from last season. But at least one key loss – sparkplug guard Bruce Brown – was sorely missed as the Nuggets were mostly flat through two rounds of the playoffs this season.

Denver also saw key veteran Jeff Green leave for the Houston Rockets. It was another seemingly small but apparently impactful loss.

In Bailey’s scenario, the Nuggets get to reload and potentially clean up their books.

Bogdan Bogdanovic offers a versatile offensive threat who can create for himself and others, shoot the three-ball efficiently (38.4% career 3P), and is equally adept coming off the bench as he is starting.

The 31-year-old swingman is entering Year 2 of a four-year, $68 million contract and will count $17.2 million against the cap in 2024-25. 

There is a $16 million club option for the final season in 2026-27.

Isaac is entering the final season of a four-year, $69.6 million deal. He will count $17.4 million against the salary cap next season. His salary for this coming season is non-guaranteed until January, per Spotrac, due to his previous lost time.

Isaac has appeared in more than the 58 games he did this past season just once in his career, appearing in 75 games in his second season in 2018-19.

This scenario cuts $1.4 million in salary in 2024-25. Denver could let Isaac walk next summer.

Porter is slated to count $38-plus million against the cap next season in what would be Year 4 of a five-year, $179.3 million contract. That means this scenario could save the Nuggets upwards of $22 million in 2025-26.

Grade – C+: This would be a perfect vehicle to try to remain competitive with an eye toward the future. Even after his playoff woes, moving on from Porter without a proven replacement is risky.