NBA Trade Idea To Pair 2 of the Best Players In the World

After the Denver Nuggets got knocked out in the first round and the Milwaukee Bucks failed to make the playoffs, both organizations find themselves at a crossroads.

The Nuggets core that won a title in 2023 looks like it may have missed its chance to secure a second title. In three straight postseasons now, the Nuggets have looked too slow and too complacent to keep up with younger contenders like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Bucks, meanwhile, have made a series of desperation moves over the last several years that not only failed but depleted the team's asset bank. In its current and short-term-future state, it looks like contention is entirely out of the question for Milwaukee.

So, perhaps these two franchises can deal with each other and help themselves take the right turn at the aforementioned crossroads.

The Deal

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Before we explain why each team would (or at least should) be interested in the deal, it helps to see the entire package at a glance.

Nuggets Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma

Bucks Receive: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick swap and a 2026 second-round pick (via Atlanta)

The typical caveat here is that you should probably just look at these details as the foundation of a deal. Readers can reasonably quibble over the number and type of assets attached.

But in this case, both teams are asset-strapped to the point that it's tough to find other trades. So, without further ado, let's get into why the move would make sense for both sides.

Nuggets Go All-In

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Nuggets Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma

Nuggets Lose: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick swap and a 2026 second-round pick (via Atlanta)

The analysis on this one may not be as obvious as you think.

Giannis is obviously an all-time great. Pairing him with Nikola Jokić would give the Nuggets one of the best duos in NBA history.

But the fit between those two may not be as seamless as the Jokić-Jamal Murray two-man game that's been fostered for years and led Denver to the only title in its franchise's history.

Giving up Aaron Gordon, one of the most beloved Nuggets ever, and the one dubbed by the fan base as "Mr. Nugget," wouldn't be easy either. Gordon leads Denver's defense, is willing to play an ancillary role on offense and has his own unique chemistry with Jokić.

This deal also moves Denver's asset cupboard, officially, to bare.

But Giannis is exactly the kind of player who might be worth this dramatic a move. His ability to score at and above the rim would force defenses inside, creating room for Jokić to operate from the high post or perimeter. Jokić's prowess from 15 feet and out, in turn, would make it impossible to double Giannis inside.

There would still be plenty of needs around the rest of the roster. The Nuggets would need a quality point guard to play off the two stars. Kyle Kuzma would have to be better (something that's happened for plenty of role players who've joined Jokić). And ownership would need to commit to paying the luxury tax and re-signing Peyton Watson.

But simply having that top two would go a long way toward covering up any other roster shortcomings.

Bucks Stay Competitive and Get a Blue-Chip Asset

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Bucks Receive: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2031 first-round pick swap and a 2026 second-round pick (via Atlanta)

Bucks Lose: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Kuzma

Let's get something out of the way right off the bat. If the Bucks are intent on a package loaded with draft assets, the Nuggets would almost certainly be out of the running.

There are plenty of other teams with more picks that could convince themselves they're a Giannis away from contending for a championship.

But this deal would give Milwaukee a top two that would instantly put them back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Murray is in the middle of his prime and likely to be announced as an All-NBA selection. Gordon could be a dynamic No. 2 alongside him and is a pretty obvious fit next to Myles Turner's three-point shooting.

That's a trio that, along with the still-developing Ryan Rollins, could probably muster a winning record in the East. And while Denver's 2026 first (the 26th pick) isn't super valuable, that swap in 2031 could be huge.

By that point, Jokić and Giannis could be out of the league, or, at the very least, well past their primes. And that, of course, means a pretty good shot at a top pick (even with Adam Silver's crusade to upend the draft lottery).