Houston Rockets: 3 teams who need both P.J. Tucker and Victor Oladipo

Houston Rockets P.J. Tucker/Victor Oladipo trade bundle team #2 Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers have had incredibly similar seasons up until this point. The main difference between the two is that the Nuggets are 4-6 in games decided by five points or fewer while the Sixers are 5-2 and they get to play in the Eastern Conference.

The Nuggets actually have a better net-rating than the Sixers at +3.6 points per 100 possessions but their 17-15 record has them sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference. If the Nuggets want to make it back to the Western Conference Finals and farther they’ll need some fresh blood.

Nikola Jokic has had a scorching start to the season and is a large reason why the Nuggets have the league’s fifth-most efficient offense. While their attack has been potent, their defense has kept them from breaking into the contender party.

P.J. Tucker and Victor Oladipo would instantly give the Nuggets’ 21st ranked defense the jolt they need. The two won’t come cheap but the Nuggets own four of their next seven first-round picks and have multiple intriguing young players for the Rockets to take their pick of.

Michael Porter Jr. remains untouchable but R.J. Hampton, Zeke Nnaji, and Bol Bol are all under 22-years-old and have shown varying flashes of potential. None of these guys are sure things but they’re cheap and in expanded roles, they could blossom.

The Nuggets would have to send out a fair amount of salary to bring in the pair but the addition of Oladipo and Tucker could give them the boost they need in a crowded Western Conference field. The Rockets need to start thinking long-term and this deal lands them four to five pieces to build around for years.

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