Following the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn predicted that the Denver Nuggets could execute a surprise trade with the Houston Rockets to bolster their roster. The proposed deal would see the Nuggets acquire the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft in exchange for a 2032 first-round pick and a 2031 pick swap. This move aims to address Denver’s need for depth during their championship window, centered around Nikola Jokić, who averaged 26.4 points and 12.4 rebounds in the 2024-25 regular season. The Nuggets, who hold the No. 28 pick, see the lottery’s outcome—Dallas securing No. 1 with a 1.8% chance—as an opportunity to move up for a high-upside prospect like Kentucky’s Justin Edwards or Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, per ESPN’s mock draft.
The trade is driven by Denver’s recent playoff struggles, including a 3-3 tie against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals as of May 17, 2025, despite Julian Strawther’s Game 6 heroics. Injuries to Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray’s illness have exposed roster depth issues, compounded by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure and Michael Porter Jr.’s inconsistent play. Quinn notes that Houston, with young stars like Jalen Green, is less focused on immediate draft capital, making the trade feasible. Posts on X, like @OmarNdoye_’s, also speculate on larger deals involving Porter Jr. for Nets’ Cam Johnson, but the Rockets trade is seen as more realistic. Adding a top-10 pick could provide Denver with a cost-controlled rotation player, crucial as Jokić’s prime peaks, especially after their 2023 title and 57-win 2024-25 season.[]
