Last year, the Nuggets pulled off one of the most surprising trades at the deadline, sending out Nene, whom they'd just re-signed to a five-year, $65MM contract, for a package that included JaVale McGee. In 2011, the Carmelo Anthony trade shook up the franchise at midseason. This time around, coach George Karl expects a much quieter deadline for his team, believing the odds are slim that Denver will make a trade, as Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post shares.
"It would be different if you knew there was a contract, but we’re happy with our salary structure, we’re happy with our contracts, we’re happy with our players… And we’re happy with our record," he said.
Timofey Mozgov, one of the pieces acquired in the Anthony deal two years ago, appears to be Denver's most likely trade candidate, but multiple reports have indicated the Nuggets aren't moving him unless another team wows them with their offer. Dempsey points out that Corey Brewer, like Mozgov, is on an expiring deal, but Brewer has expressed interest in re-signing with the team this summer.
Karl said he's had a single conversation about potential trades with GM Masai Ujiri, preferring to leave the job of roster construction to him. Ujiri has proven one of the craftier executives in his short time in charge of Denver's front office, having kept the Nuggets in the playoffs amid drastic change to the roster over the past two seasons. With Denver in fourth place and two games behind the slumping Clippers for third, it looks like Ujiri believes the best move now is to sit tight.