NBA Trade Rumors: Arron Afflalo Sign and Trade Will Force Departure from Nuggets

With the NBA offseason about to start, teams are looking to add to their roster those missing pieces to make a run for the NBA title. However with the new NBA collective bargaining agreement, teams are pushed up against their salary cap limit. 

It’s why putting an offer in for a player like Arron Afflalo makes it hard for teams like the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. They will have to work some magic to obtain the Denver Nuggets shooting guard.  

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein: 

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Sources told ESPN.com that the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, despite possessing no cap space to bid for the 26-year-old swingman, will continue to press the Nuggets to see if they’re amenable to sign-and-trade discussions.  

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Being from Los Angeles, going to play for the Lakers would make sense for Afflalo. Arron was aware that this situation would come, as he said: 

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“The appreciation factor [for the Nuggets] is always going to be there. And they still have my rights. When [last] season ended, I always anticipated being back there, but at the end of the day you have to keep your options open because you never know. Whenever this process does end, I’ll be ready to take on whatever decisions come at that point.”   

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With the need for a lockdown defender and rising scorer, Afflalo will demand a high asking price from a team like the Lakers or Bulls. The Nuggets will do their best at trying to save the rising star, however will have no choice but let him go.  

Denver has a lot of restricted and unrestricted free agents this year. They have to make a tough decision on players like, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Nene Hilario and Afflalo. Smith, Martin and Nene all are unrestricted, and could leave the Nuggets with nothing in return.  

Denver would be wise to get a nice package back for Afflalo, saving money on their cap room to resign one of those unrestricted free agents.  

As good as Afflalo is, he is easily replaceable. However, someone like Smith and Nene are not.  

The NBA is a business and sometimes you have to make tough decisions. Afflalo should be moved either to the Lakers or Bulls, where they can sign him to a long term deal.

It’s the right and smart move to make for the Nuggets franchise. 

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