Houston Rockets: 3 trades that send David Nwaba to the Denver Nuggets

Houston Rockets: David Nwaba to the Denver Nuggets Trade #1

This deal probably works best for both the Nuggets and the Rockets. The Nuggets ship out PJ Dozier and a protected first-round pick to the Rockets for David Nwaba.

PJ Dozier has had to fight to make it in the NBA and has become a solid NBA rotation piece for the Nuggets. He is shooting a career-best from the field and from 3-point range and at 6’6 he has the size and length to defend multiple positions.

While Dozier offers some similarities to Nwaba, he just simply is not the defender he is. The appeal here for the Rockets is that Dozier has steadily improved throughout his NBA career and could be a solid part of their rebuilding effort.

Each season he has increased his minutes total and his true shooting percentage and could be an excellent bench piece or a solid complimentary starter.  The Nuggets don’t need a player like Dozier as much because of the depth of their roster and the fact that they have Will Barton still around.

The protected first-round pick might not convey for a long time, depending on the protections, but could become a valuable trade chip. The Nuggets are set up to be a perennial playoff team and the value of their first-round picks is through trades and not through the draft.

This trade allows Denver to keep their core contributors and prospects while only surrendering a rotation piece and a low-value pick. The Rockets won’t be better for shipping out Nwaba but he’s on an expiring contract and cashing him in for some assets right now is a move the Rockets need to make.