The Denver Nuggets are a good team, but are they as good as some of the other top contenders in the NBA Western Conference, like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs? No, they’re not.
That’s why the Nuggets need to keep thinking about making trades, and one of them could be to acquire veteran sniper Kevin Durant from the Houston Rockets to pair with Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic and the rest of their veterans as the Nuggets look to win their first NBA Championship since 2023.
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But since the Nuggets are in the second apron, a Durant trade is going to be difficult. It’s not impossible, though, and we can figure out how to make it work.
Nikola Jokic could use a sidekick of Kevin Durant’s caliber in Denver.Dragana Stjepanovic / Getty Images
Nuggets Proposed Trade for Kevin Durant
Since the Nuggets are roughly $2 million over the second apron, the first order of business is to trade a small contract to take them out of the second apron, which will allow them to aggregate contracts in a trade for Durant.
Related: Warriors Path To Reunite Kevin Durant With Curry Exists
So, the first thing we need to do to make Durant to Denver possible is trade DaRon Holmes, the No. 22 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, to any team willing to take him for essentially free. Holmes makes $3.4 million this coming season, so he would be easy to fit in for most teams on their roster that have an open spot available. In return, that team can send the Nuggets a pair of second-round picks in return to take a flyer on a recent first-round pick.
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With Holmes gone, the Nuggets are now under the second apron, so they can aggregate contracts in a trade.
As part of this deal, the Nuggets will trade Cameron Johnson and his expiring $23 million deal to the Rockets for Durant and his $43.9 million deal. The Nuggets will also send Christian Braun and his $21.5 million deal in the trade, totaling $44.5 million, a near-perfect match for Durant.
Since Braun has a bloated contract, the Nuggets are going to have to pay the Rockets compensation for taking the deal, so they’ll send them the picks they get from the mystery third team in the Holmes salary dump, plus whatever other picks and pick swaps the Nuggets are legally allowed to send out.
Denver doesn’t have a ton of draft capital to play with in trades at the moment, but they should have enough to get this deal done, provided the Rockets like Johnson and think that Braun can turn things around in Houston, which is certainly possible, as he was a very good player for a championship-winning Nuggets squad just a few years ago.
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Denver’s Lineup With KD
Here’s what Denver’s lineup looks like following this proposed trade, and assuming the team re-signs restricted free agent Peyton Watson.
PG: Jamal Murray
SG: Peyton Watson
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic
Bench: Spencer Jones, Julian Strawther, Marvin Bagley III, Tyus Jones, Trevon Brazile, Zeke Nnaji, Lonnie Walker IV, KJ Simpson, Alpha Diallo
Trading away Johnson and Braun does hurt the Nuggets’ depth chart, but it’s worth it to bring in Durant, who will instantly make the Nuggets NBA Championship contenders once again.
Durant and Jokic are two of the top-10 players in the league, and we know that you need elite players to win titles in this league. Add in another All-Star in Murray, the underrated Gordon, and an improving wing in Watson, and Denver’s starting five starts to look very good.
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The team’s bench would need work, but there are ways to improve it, such as trading Nnaji’s contract in a salary dump and replacing him with minimum-salary veterans.
Due to the second apron, Denver’s front office will have to do some serious manoeuvering if they want to land Durant. But it is possible to get the deal done with Houston, and if the Rockets agree to the proposed trade, then Denver’s front office needs to pull the trigger on it.
Related: Kevin Durant Could Put Pistons Over The Top
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Aug 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
