Report: Nuggets likely to land 1st-round pick for Afflalo, want 2 firsts for Chandler
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The most likely name to move at Thursday's trade deadline may be Arron Afflalo.
Of all the rumors being floated leading up to the 3 p.m. ET deadline, it's Afflalo's name being discussed with the most certainty. Even oddsmakers are suggesting Afflalo's likely to go, implying a two-in-three probability with a -200 money line on him being dealt.
The Denver Nuggets moving on from Afflalo makes sense as they tear things down amid a lost season, even if Afflalo isn't by any means the problem. A solid defender and dangerous outside shooter, the UCLA product appears to have plenty of value on the trade market, at least among teams who can absorb is $7.8-million salary without much issue.
The market is strong enough that the Nuggets are almost certain to get the first-round pick they've been asking for in return, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. They may now also be looking for a second-round pick for Afflalo, which if steep but still lower than the asking price for Wilson Chandler, which is believed to be a pair of first-round picks.
Teams looking to acquire Chandler will be doing so with a two-year window in mind, as he is owed $7.2 million next season - an amount that became fully guaranteed this summer. Chandler isn't quite the shooter or playmaker Afflalo is but he can ostensibly guard three positions and is a solid rebounder on the wing.
The Portland Trail Blazers are believed to be the most likely trading partner for the Nuggets, even if the emergence of C.J. McCollum has them slightly less desperate for additional wing depth.
The Blazers have made Thomas Robinson, Will Barton and picks available, and they may prefer players like Chandler or Afflalo - who has a $7.9-million player option for next season - who they can keep through next season. Portland stands to have ample cap space but may eat into all of it re-signing their own free agents, and so adding one of these two would allow them to improve their 2015-16 roster even though they may not have access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Sacramento Kings are also said to be interested in Afflalo, but they owe a top-10 protected first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls, and the Nuggets may prefer a more immediate draft return.
For his part, Afflalo has learned to deal with his name being in rumors, hardly surprising given he's already been dealt three times in his eight-year career.
The 29-year-old is averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists while hitting on 33.7 percent of his threes. In the three seasons prior to this year, his numbers were stronger, with Afflalo averaging 16.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists with a 37.8 percent mark from long range.