Nuggets look for offensive help via trade and look at Bulls’ Zach LaVine: Sources

As of Tuesday night, Nikola Jokić is on pace to become just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. It would go down as one of the best individual seasons in NBA history, and one that will surely catapult Jokić into the realm of the greats to have played this game. But if his Denver Nuggets are to remain title contenders, the three-time MVP’s greatness still isn’t enough.

With the NBA’s trade window opening this past weekend and the trade deadline less than two months away, the Nuggets are scouring the league for a player who can offer significant help offensively, league sources say. Athletics.

As a result, the Nuggets have either expressed interest in or had initial trade discussions on the following players: Chicago’s Zach Lavine, Washington’s Jordan Poole, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas.

League sources say the focus on LaVine in recent discussions is significant, with the Nuggets interested in the 29-year-old, who is averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season. LaVine, a two-time All-Star, is owed $43 million this season, $45.9 million next season and has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-2027 campaign.

This isn’t the first time the Nuggets have shown a desire to upgrade with a wing scorer. Seam Athletics reported in late JuneDenver discussed the prospect of adding Paul George in a trade that likely would have included Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji going to the LA Clippers (and George coming to the Nuggets via an extension-and-trade deal). That deal didn’t go through, but it was as strong a sign as any that Denver had identified that need some time ago.

Any major trade would likely involve Porter, according to league sources. Porter has long been one of the best shooters in the league. This season, he has matured into an all-around scorer capable of impacting the offense from all three levels. He has also become stronger and more impactful defensively than he has been in the past.

Nnaji is also available, league sources say. Any significant trade the Nuggets would make might also have to involve a pick swap as a sweetener.

According to league sources, the Nuggets greatly value Porter and what he does to space Denver’s offense. Porter, who is making $35.8 million this season and is signed through the 2026-27 campaign (guaranteed in that season), is having a career year (18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game).

League sources say the Nuggets had even extended talks with Porter earlier this season, a strong indication they still feel confident about his long-term future. Porter, 26, is in the prime of his career while still improving as an overall player. He has a history of injury issues but has remained relatively healthy over the past few seasons, playing in 81 games last season.

With Jokić averaging 31 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists per game — marks never matched in league history — the need to alleviate some of Jokić’s offensive burden is obvious. He is averaging a career high in field goal attempts (21.1), good for fourth in the league and well above his second-highest total (18.0 in the 2020-21 season). His minutes have also increased this season, with Jokić averaging 37.3 (second in the league; his second-highest was 34.6 in the 2020-21 season). The Nuggets’ offense is currently ranked seventh in the league (down from fifth last season and fourth the season before they won the title).

More importantly, the Nuggets are looking for help in the form of someone capable of creating offense with the ball in his hands. A lot of Denver’s problems stem from Jokić and Jamal Murray being the only players on the roster who are consistently able to create their own shots. League sources say the Nuggets would like to add one more player capable of doing so at a high level.

That’s why Denver has cast a wide net. But the Nuggets’ collective lack of assets as a first-place team makes it more difficult to get a deal done with some teams. For example, Clarkson’s ability to score off the bench, as well as his playoff experience, would be a great fit for the Nuggets. A Clarkson deal likely wouldn’t require Denver to include Porter. But that would likely require the Nuggets to include an unprotected first-round pick swap, which Denver may be hesitant to include.

The last two years for Denver have been a mix and match effort to extend a championship window with Jokić as the centerpiece. This season, Jokić has been the absolute best player in the world. But as of Tuesday, the Nuggets are 14-10 overall, fifth in the Western Conference, and teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies have separated themselves at the top of the standings.

The Nuggets want to make sure they are more viable for the tough season, and for the postseason where isolation scoring becomes more important.

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(Photo of Zach LaVine and Nikola Jokić: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)