The Denver Nuggets improved their depth considerably this offseason, but a valued trade chip from the Utah Jazz could surprisingly push their roster over the top in 2025-26.
3-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić received plenty of help from his front office this summer after the Nuggets' top brass made moves to acquire Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets via trade, as well as Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. on team-friendly deals in free agency.
Denver accomplished their goal of supporting Jokić and Jamal Murray with complementary pieces that aligned with the team's game-plan, and Utah could plausibly offer to prove the Nuggets with yet another compelling addition in the form of 11-year veteran forward, Kyle Anderson.
"At 6-foot-9 with elite court vision for a forward, Anderson can initiate offense, guard multiple positions, and fit into almost any system without demanding the ball," ClutchPoints' Rohan Brahmbhatt wrote Monday afternoon.
"For playoff teams, he’s the perfect glue guy, a steadying force who can defend stars one night and run second-unit offense the next."
"Anderson’s skill set is built for postseason basketball: he makes smart decisions, doesn’t get rattled, and consistently impacts the game without needing touches. By February, he could be one of the most sought-after mid-tier trade targets in the league."
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Entering NBA campaign No. 12, the former San Antonio Spurs draft selection and reliable two-way force could prove to be a worthy trade deadline target for the Nuggets.
The 31-year-old forward appeared in 61 games this past season while splitting time with the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, as he was involved in the blockbuster deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Bay.
After receiving more opportunity with the Heat, Anderson contributed 6.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while knocking down 49.3% of his chances from the field.
While he's proved to be a stabilizing agent on the offensive end, his impressive career 2.5 defensive box plus-minus will likely have prospective contenders inquiring about his availability sooner rather than later.
If the Nuggets were to entertain the idea of landing Anderson via trade, it's not too far-fetched to imagine that their former No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Zeke Nnaji, could be moved in a hypothetical deal along with second-round draft capital to the rebuilding Jazz.
In this case, Denver would effectively be swapping Nnaji out for a dependable role player that can be trusted in pivotal moments during the postseason, an option that may grow in appeal over time for the 2023 NBA champions.
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