Despite some chatter, the Nuggets are not open to trading Jamal Murray in a potential deal centered on Rockets star James Harden, a source told Mike Singer of the Denver Post.
The Nuggets are among the teams to have held trade talks with the Rockets, per ESPN. The Nets and 76ers are among the others.
“But a league source said Tuesday that Murray would not be traded,” Singer wrote. “His transcendent postseason run in Orlando reaffirmed why the Nuggets gave him a max contract extension last summer and underscored why they view him as a franchise cornerstone, along with center Nikola Jokic.”
Jokic, of course, would not be included in any potential Harden trade, either. As Singer noted, that would leave young Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (and filler) as the most obvious player who could bring back Harden in a deal.
But when it comes to Harden, it’s still a whole lot of wait-and-see. Word is, the Rockets remain hopeful of dealing him before Wednesday, but are willing to hold on to him longer if they can’t find a deal they like.
As far as we know, the Nuggets were not among the teams on Harden’s “wish list” of preferred destinations. While Rockets GM Rafael Stone has reportedly been keeping Harden’s camp abreast of the talks, it is not known if the team will only trade him where he wants to go.
