Entering the 2020-21 NBA season, there were a lot of high expectations for this Denver Nuggets team, especially given that they are coming off a postseason run that ended in the Western Conference Finals. With Nikola Jokic being one of the best players in the entire league and with the emergence of both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. last season in the NBA Bubble, it looked like the Nuggets could enter the year as one of the top teams, but that has not been the case. 

They have started to play a little better and are now 9-7, but the Nuggets started the year 3-5 and have shown struggles with their second-unit. With Michael Porter Jr. missing close to a month due to COVID-19 protocols, Denver was thin on the wing and in terms of bench production. Monte Morris, JaMychal Green and P.J. Dozier have all stepped up this season off-the-bench, but if this Denver team is going to be successful, they must look for more depth and scoring options come trade deadline. 

Early on in the season, Nikola Jokic looks like the clear favorite to win the NBA MVP Award, as he is currently averaging 25.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 9.6 assists and is shooting 56.1% from the floor, 35.3% from three-point range. Not only does he have a double-double in every single game this season, but Jokic is looking to become the first center in NBA history to lead the league in assists. 

With Nikola Jokic playing at the highest level of his career and Jamal Murray flirting with being an All-Star this season, the Nuggets have a chance to replicate their postseason success from a season ago but seem to be missing that one extra piece to their championship puzzle. If this team is to challenge the Lakers for a chance to make the NBA Finals, they will need to make a big move near the trade deadline.

With that being said, let’s take a look at three intriguing future trade targets for the Denver Nuggets as the trade deadline approaches.