Nuggets and Bucks complete preliminary trading discussion, five first round picks with Gordon for Antetokounmpo, Murray will also send it away

The latest report by the Denver Post reporter Bennet Durando, the Nuggets officially contacted the Bucks to ask about Antetokounmpo's trade offer. President Josh Kroenke provided a preliminary trading plan, including two starting players and at least five first-round draft picks. In the negotiations, Jamal Murray may also be sent away in a three-party trade.

Nuggets President Josh Kroenke announced that David Adelman was officially promoted to head coach. The next key task of the team's management is to transform and upgrade the lineup around Jokic. Josh Kroenke said that the 2025 offseason will be the most difficult season for the Nuggets in many years, and it will not be a calm season. At the season summary press conference, Jokic clearly told the Nuggets management to supplement the depth of the lineup rotation, find a qualified substitute center, and upgrade the team to the level of winning the championship again. Since the Nuggets won the championship, they have been out of the Western Conference semi-finals for two consecutive years. The core lineup and substitute lineup are obviously not enough to compete for the championship again, and making changes is imperative.

"Unless the Nuggets make huge changes and make risky transactions in the trading market, the resources to transform the lineup around Jokic are extremely limited." Bennet Duranto said, "Even if the Nuggets management is willing to pay the price to reconstruct the lineup, it will face huge challenges." The Nuggets are expected to have 13 players in full guarantee next season, with a book salary of US$199.5 million, which is close to the second luxury tax collection line. In any trading proposal, the total salary of the players exchanged by the Nuggets cannot exceed the total salary of the players sent. In any case, the Nuggets management decided to make some substantial moves so that Jokic could stay in Denver for a long time to continue his career, forming Jokic and Antetokounmpo's lineup became the Nuggets' key implementation plan.

"The core lineup of this team was formed under different labor and capital agreements," said Josh Kroenke. "We draft, train young players and form this team are all under different rules. These rules are changing almost at any time. Michael Porter did not even have the concept of championship competition when he signed. Now, it is time for the team to make some new attempts." Antetokounmpo entered the trading market, and the Nuggets management must seize the opportunity to form the strongest frontcourt. Jamal Murray and Gordon's contract renewal contract thaw are qualified to trade, which gives the Nuggets an unlimited possibility in the trading market.

The Nuggets can match any superstar's trade contract, whether Durant or Antetokounmpo, and also provide some excellent young players, including Watson, Braun and 2024 first-round rookie forward Daron Holmes. In terms of draft picks, the Nuggets can trade first-round picks in 2027 (top five), first-round picks in 2031, first-round picks in 2026, 2028 and 2030 first-round picks. The Nuggets could theoretically give out five first-round picks for the Antetokounmpo deal. If necessary, the Nuggets can also trade Murray or Gordon for a first-round pick as a bargaining chip for trading Antetokounmpo.

"Josh Kroenke had two trading conversations with Bucks general manager Jon Horst and asked Antetokounmpo's trading price code." Bennet Duranto revealed, "Josh Kroenke tentatively gave a trading plan. In addition to Jokic, four other starting players of the Nuggets can be put into the trading package, and the Bucks can choose at will." If necessary, the Nuggets are willing to explore three-party transactions, trade Murray to other teams and exchange them for the players the Bucks want or rebuild assets. The Rockets may consider a proposal to trade draft picks and young players for Murray to add a reliable offensive star to the young roster.

The Bucks management will trade Antetokounmpo and will use Nuggets as an important trading target. The Bucks' future draft picks have been traded to other teams, and the reconstruction is not in line with the actual situation facing the team. Maintaining competitiveness in the East is still the goal of the Bucks' management. Gordon, Porter packed Watson, Darron Holmes, and Braun were enough to make the Bucks a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. For the Nuggets, it is the best result to introduce Antetokounmpo while retaining Murray and Gordon, but this will greatly reduce the depth of the team's lineup, and it will be difficult to strengthen the lineup in the future.

Although the Nuggets have insisted on avoiding building teams with stars in recent years, as long as they can form the core lineup of Antetokounmpo and Jokic, the Nuggets are willing to take a risk and the team will also jump to the top favorite to win the championship next season.