The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns have held discussions on a trade that would send point guard Emmanuel Mudiay and the No. 13 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft for point guard Eric Bledsoe, league sources told ESPN. However, sources described the dialogue as “fluid.”
More on Emmanuel Mudiay Trade
That leaves only a few plausible alternatives. The Pistons could target a distressed young point guard like Elfrid Payton or Emmanuel Mudiay, and snag a rental wing to make up the salary gap. Mudiay is available, per several league sources, though it appears Denver has no interest in Jackson. Orlando remains an intriguing fit; Rob Hennigan, the Magic GM, was part of the Thunder front office that drafted Jackson, and the team is starting freaking C.J. Watson over Payton.
Mudiay is available, per several league sources, though it appears Denver has no interest in Jackson.
There continues to be a belief that Denver might also be open to trading guard Emmanuel Mudiay if the returning package were right.
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone dismissed trade rumors involving Wilson Chandler and Emmanuel Mudiay, saying that recent reports about the players are "a lot of noise."
Malone said Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly reached out to Mudiay and told the young point guard not to "believe any of this stuff." "Emmanuel's a big part of our future," Malone said. "Tim Connelly's not actively shopping Emmanuel Mudiay. That's just not accurate, it's not fair, and Emmanuel knows that."
The Nuggets are quietly exploring what they might get for Emmanuel Mudiay and multiple picks, sources say, but they're in no rush to move Mudiay, and the Suns may not want him when they could simply draft a point guard. There aren't that many teams with a need at the position, and not much reason to exchange Bledsoe for another established guy -- say, Reggie Jackson or Ricky Rubio -- unless the other team includes a pretty damned good pick to sweeten the pot.
