The Denver Nuggets are expected to trade their $207 million star player for a 23-year-old defensive standout from the Detroit Pistons. This move comes after the Nuggets' early exit from the 2026 postseason.

Nuggets predicted to swap $207 million star for Pistons' 23-year-old defensive menace originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It would be shocking to witness the Denver Nuggets enter the 2026-27 season without a single roster adjustment.
Denver, which flamed out early in the 2026 postseason, has plenty of tradeable assets it could use to convince a franchise to partner with it on the offseason trade market.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh, a 29-year-old NBA champion point guard is one of them, and he could be used to help the Nuggets acquire the Detroit Pistons' 23-year-old defensive menace.
“Denver needs an athletic defender,” Haberstroh wrote Friday. “Detroit (Pistons) needs an elite shot creator. It’s hard to find contenders with such compatible needs.”
“Thompson may be untouchable, but the Nuggets have to at least make the call if the Pistons are embarrassed by the Orlando Magic with a first-round out. That’s a big if."
“Still just 23 years old, Thompson received the third-most votes in a runaway Defensive Player of the Year vote, which may overstate his immediate value a tad, but if there’s a target for Denver, it’s that guy.”
The $207 million star player is a 29-year-old NBA champion point guard currently with the Denver Nuggets.
The 23-year-old player from the Pistons is known as a defensive menace, indicating he likely plays a guard or forward position focused on defense.
The Nuggets are considering a trade due to their disappointing early exit from the 2026 postseason and the need to make roster adjustments.
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“Thompson would be a monster athlete and rim finisher who would be tailor-made for (Nikola) Jokic's virtuoso passing abilities. You thought (Aaron) Gordon in the dunker spot next to Jokic was a devastating threat? Ausar could be even more electric in that role.”
In addition to landing Thompson, the Nuggets would acquire Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert in Haberstroh’s trade idea by sending Jamal Murray and a future first-round pick to the Pistons.
If Thompson, like his brother Amen, ever develops a consistent perimeter jump shot, he’ll transform into one of the best two-way contributors in the league. The former lottery pick is already a dynamic on-ball defender who doesn’t allow opposing ball handlers to play to their strengths, so taking his offense to an elevated level would only make him a more formidable asset.
Thompson is currently averaging 2.3 steals per game in the playoffs, but has failed to connect on a long-range jumper (he’s shooting 20.4% from three for his career).
Even without a three-point jump shot, though, Thompson could receive heavy interest from the Nuggets due to his elite defensive prowess.
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