Nuggets’ Offseason Ambition: The KD Pursuit
Every championship window brings big ambitions. For the Nuggets, reigning on the strength of Nikola Jokić’s generational dominance, the 2025 offseason ignited whispers of an audacious move: trading for Kevin Durant—the two-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, and one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history .
Durant’s name quickly grabbed headlines. With the Suns stumbling into the Western Conference play‑in despite their star-studded roster, multiple teams—including Miami, Spurs, Heat, Timberwolves, Bucks, and notably Denver—“phoned around to gauge the price tag” on KD . Internally, Nuggets analysts and voices saw the allure clearly: a joining of HOF-caliber scorers in Jokić + Durant would form a matchup nightmare and elevate Denver to unassailable heights in the West .
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💰 Big Rewards, Big Complications
1. Salary Cap & Asset Constraints
Durant, entering the final year of a $54.7 million contract, brought with him a hefty financial commitment . The Nuggets, already hovering near the luxury tax threshold, would have needed to land-cost match by packaging out significant salary—likely through Michael Porter Jr. ($38m), Peyton Watson, Dario Šarić, Zeke Nnaji, and potentially draft pick compensation . Even then, they’d rely heavily on a third team to clean up cap issues .
2. Roster Depth and Age
Nikola Jokić himself emphasized the need for a deeper rotation post-“Game 7 exit to OKC,” pointing to bench depth as a key to competing . Swapping rotational players and first-round picks for one all‑in star would risk gutting depth during grueling playoff stretches. And with Durant turning 37 before the next season tip‑off, the move risked becoming short-sighted .
3. Contract Duration & Long‑Term Fit
Durant’s one‑year contract meant Denver would be chasing a fleeting horsepower—unless they believed KD would re-sign under the new CBA, something far from guaranteed. That uncertainty made further core bundle moves precarious .
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📈 What Could Have Been: Proposed Deals
Speculation boiled over with mock trade frameworks. One example circulated on ClutchPoints: Durant for Porter Jr., Watson, plus a 2031 first-rounder and 2025 second-rounder . Another from EssentiallySports suggested a package including Porter Jr., Šarić, Watson, Nnaji, plus multiple picks to clear cap room .
Ex-NBA forward Theo Pinson even sketched out a Nuggets blueprint: send Jamal Murray, MPJ, plus picks to Phoenix, receive Durant in return, then add veteran role pieces (e.g., Bruce Brown, Dennis Schröder) .
That vision, though aggressive, showed Denver was deeply evaluating options—even if those options came at a steep price.
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🧠 Fits & Friction: Jokic + Durant?
On paper, pairing Jokić with Durant creates one of the most potent dynamic duos the NBA has ever seen. Jokic’s playmaking wizardry and elite feel would mesh seamlessly with KD’s off-ball movement, spacing, and fearless scoring . Fans drooled at the mere possibility (“…you can’t guard him if Kevin Durant’s there,” Pinson asserted ).
Yet, real concerns loomed:
Role adjustment: Durant is accustomed to high usage. Could he fit into Jokic’s pass-first, egalitarian offense—especially for just one year?
Durability: At 36–37 and with a mile-long injury log, the luxury tax burn might outweigh a diminished or incomplete postseason contribution .
Depth impact: As Denver would have to sacrifice rotation players to land KD, their bench would likely weaken—countering Jokic’s stated plan .
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