The Nuggets and Bucks are in similar situations. Both small market teams seemingly need a boost to vault themselves into true NBA title contention but both teams also don’t want to disrupt the apple cart that has them atop the standings. Denver could use a scoring swingman as they don’t have much scoring from the wing. Center Nikola Jokic and point guard Jamal Murray are leading the Nuggets in scoring, pumping in 20.2 and 18.5 points per game respectively.
The Bucks, meanwhile, don’t really have a weakness in any particular position. But they could use an upgrade at several spots.
One team to watch at the deadline on Thursday is the Miami Heat, who could dangle 2-guard Josh Richardson or Goran Dragic. Richardson is averaging a team-high 17.3 points per game and Dragic is pumping in 15.3 along with 4.9 assists per game. The Heat desperately want to shed salary ahead of this summer as the once-proud franchise is currently spinning its tires in the middle of the Eastern Conference. Pat Riley has long been a go-big or go-home executive and there have been too many years now that the Heat have been stuck at .500. Riley would love to get rid of the mammoth Hassan Whiteside contract but it doesn’t look like there will be any takers.
Right now it looks as though both Denver and Milwaukee will be quiet at the moment, but both teams have situations worth monitoring as we inch closer to 3 p.m..
