Insider Names 2 Young Nuggets' Forwards as Potential Trade Candidates Next Season

After being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Denver Nuggets felt as though it was time for a change this offseason around their trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.

That is exactly what the Nuggets did as they began their summer by trading Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson, landing them a sharpshooting forward while also opening up cap space for more moves.

With the extra cap space, the Nuggets signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency and they also acquired Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings.

By making these moves, along with having Jokic leading the way, the Nuggets are now expected to be one of the biggest threats to the Oklahoma City Thunder next season.

Insider names Nuggets' potential trade candidates

While that may be the case, the Nuggets could still elect to make more moves to upgrade their roster this summer or during the regular season and Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico recently named Peyton Watson and Julian Strawhter as potential trade candidates.

“The Nuggets spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Nikola Jokic and already sent out the man who was their biggest trade candidate. That would be Michael Porter Jr. (for Cameron Johnson). That probably leaves Julian Strawther or Peyton Watson as top smaller-scale candidates,” Amico wrote.

Amico makes a great point about how Porter Jr. was their top trade candidate prior to his trade to the Nets which leaves Watson and Strawther as the two likely candidates entering next season.

For Watson, the 22-year-old forward has continued to improve every season of his career and he played a large role off the bench last season as he averaged a career-high 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

Strawther also improved last season as the 23-year-old forward averaged a career-high 9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as a key player off the bench for Denver.

While the Nuggets could look to trade both players at some point next season if they want to upgrade their roster even more, it is highly unlikely either are moved as both players continue to have a large role in Denver’s second unit.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.