The Denver Nuggets are in the midst of an NBA Finals series, but that isn’t stopping their front office from thinking about the future. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nuggets executed a rare NBA Finals trade that saw them swap draft picks with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As part of the trade, the Nuggets will send a protected first-round pick in 2029 to OKC. In exchange, they are receiving the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Thunder’s less-favorable first-round selection in 2024, and a 2024 second-rounder.
The Thunder could have four first-round picks in the 2024 Draft, including their own, top 4-protected from Houston Rockets, unprotected from the LA Clippers, and top 10-protected from the Utah Jazz.
Denver’s motivation for the trade is clear. They are trying to get some draft assets that they can use to add young players on cheap contracts or use in trades. Nuggets’ championship is wide open and is expected to remain so in the next few years, so general manager Calvin Booth wants to maximize his team’s opportunities.
OKC, on the other hand, hopes that the Nuggets will fall off a cliff towards the end of the decade, giving them a valuable selection. OKC already owns Denver’s Top-5 protected first-round pick in 2027, which they received as part of the JaMychal Green trade. They currently have 15 first-round picks, including their own and those acquired in trades, through 2029.
