The Denver Nuggets’ interest in Nique Clifford says plenty about where their roster priorities sit right now.
On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder moved first, landing Clifford from the Sacramento Kings for two second-round picks. But Denver was in the mix too. According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nuggets were one of the teams that had interest in the 24-year-old guard before Sacramento finalized the deal with Oklahoma City.
“The Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets expressed interest in Nique Clifford before the Sacramento Kings traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two seconds, per sources,” Scotto reported after Sunday’s trade.
Clifford’s availability made sense given how his season has unfolded. He had slipped out of the Kings’ rotation this year, even though he was a first-round pick just over a year ago. The Thunder took advantage of Sacramento’s crowded backcourt, while Denver and Los Angeles were left watching the same opportunity disappear.
For the Nuggets, the appeal is easy to understand. Clifford flashed real production as a rookie, especially after the All-Star break, when he averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.8% from the field and 35.9% from 3-point range. At 6-foot-5, he brings a versatile game and has shown some defensive upside, even if this season hasn’t given him much room to show it.
That profile fits a need Denver has not solved. The Nuggets have leaned on veterans, but they’ve also shown a willingness to keep building around younger players. Bryce Hopkins, Trevon Brazile, and Julian Strawther are all 24 or younger, so Clifford would have fit right into that group.
The bigger takeaway is the position, not the player. Denver’s backcourt remains the obvious hole. The team did not address that need over the offseason, and it still looks like a problem they’re trying to work through.
If Clifford had landed in Denver, he would have given the Nuggets extra backcourt depth and another ball-handler behind the starters. As things stand, Tyus Jones has been the only backup guard getting consistent minutes behind Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, with Julian Strawther still sidelined because of a knee sprain.
That leaves Denver thin in a spot where it clearly wants more help. Jones has filled the role, but the Nuggets could use more scoring, rebounding, and defensive impact from that position. Clifford offered a possible answer there, which is why Denver’s interest matters even though the move never happened.
The Nuggets may not make a move right away, but after missing out on Clifford, the direction is pretty clear: if they do change the roster, guard depth is the area to watch.
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