With one eye on the playoffs and the other on the draft and off-season I wanted to point out that the changes in denver could effect the Cs.
They have Faired and Lawson tied up long term and will lack any real cap room this off-season. They do hold a nice colection of trade exeptions, #7 + #37 picks, a future 1st from memphis and the right to swap 2016 1st with NYK.
Coming off a terrible season in a stacked conference and looking for a coach I think they are primed for an all out rebuild. This may give the Cs an opportunity to cash in some assets to improve their roster.
As for building block young players I think its safe to say Nurkic is their center and everything else is up in the air. Harris may prove to be a nice 3rd guard and is only 20. Aside from that their under 25 players are lacking. Faried is only 25 but media reports came out that management felt pressure to sign him long term when they really didnt love the idea.
I could realistically see them trading Lawson, Faired, Chandler and Galinari in a total rebuild move. The first two (lawson and faired) where rumored to be available at the deadline. Lawson was rumored to be available for 2 1st round picks at deadline with the Cs along with Utah and Sac being mentioned (pre IT4 trade). Faired had a list of suiters with no real deal leaked and Chanlder had interest from OKC.
What I could see happening (total speculation)
Lawson + #37 to Sac for #6 +filler
Sac gets the point guard they desperately need
Faried + Chandler to the Cs for TPE + #16 + Sully + Turner (or swap Chandler for Galinari and Turner for Wallace)
The price may seem steep for the Cs but this is a clear upgrade at the PF and SF. Sully is a great talent but as a long term player he scares me. The 16th pick will be a wait and see who falls pick where the likely BPA will be a PG or PF. The Cs are set at PG and Faried is better then the PF available. It also helps that his long term contract will actually be a solid deal after the cap jumps. This trade still leaves the Cs with #28, #33 and #45 this year and 3 firsts next season. DA will have the luxury of using those picks on high upside talent as his rotation will be set.
Post trade fall out
Sac top 5
PG Lawson
SG McLemore
SF Gay
PF Thompson ?
C Cousins
Denver
using DX to project who they get at #6,#7 and #16. I could see them going Euro heavy with Hezonja and Porzingis and then PG at #16 with either Grant or Tyus Jones
Nuggets young core
PG Grant/Jones
SG Harris
SF Hezonja
PF Porzingis/Sully
C Nurkic
They would also have Gallinari, Foye, Hickson and Turner to play significant role/ build trade value with in 2015-2016
Cs Rotation
They add scoring and size at the SF and athleticism and rebounding to the PF. I would expect Ko to expand his role and actually play more minutes then Zeller despite coming off the bench or he very well could start with Zeller as the 3rd big. This team will be very competitive and a playoff team. While still having alot of assets and cap room thanks to the cap jumping.
PG Smart
SG AB
SF Chandler
PF Faried
C Zeller
6th IT4
7th KO
8th Crowder (resigned)