The Nuggets could emerge as one of the more important teams on the trade landscape this summer once Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s situation is resolved, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack article for The Stein Line. Denver has the unenviable task of trying to continue putting the best supporting cast possible around star Nikola Jokic while navigating a difficult financial situation that will likely cause the team to lose at least one of its core players.
Veteran forward Aaron Gordon has emerged as the most sought-after trade target on the roster, Stein writes, despite the injuries that have limited him to just 87 games over the last two regular seasons.
Gordon’s combination of versatile, hard-nosed defense, strong off-ball offensive play, and reliably solid outside shooting makes him an ideal fit for most contenders, but those same traits are exactly why the Nuggets would prefer to retain him.
Gordon has developed a strong two-man game with Jokic over the years and has become one of the big man’s favorite passing targets due to his great instincts as a cutter. The veteran forward is starting the first season of a three-year, $103.6MM extension, which has a player option in year three.
The Nuggets would also like to hold onto Jamal Murray, who is coming off the strongest season of his career, and instead would prefer to send out 25-year-old wing Christian Braun in any trade involving a starter, Stein notes.
Braun took a step back after signing a five-year, $125MM extension last summer, as health issues – including a significant ankle sprain – limited him to 44 games in 2025/26. He made just 30.1% of his three-pointers this season after shooting 38.4% over his previous three years, and his scoring average dipped to 12.0 PPG. However, he’s a solid defender and transition threat and is young enough that there is still interesting upside for a team that needs a reliable performer on the wing.
