- Alex English was traded to the Denver Nuggets from the Indiana Pacers in 1980.
- Allen Iverson was dealt to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups in 2008.
- Denver sent Carmelo Anthony to his hometown New York Knicks in 2011.
The Denver Nuggets have made many moves to improve their chances of winning, thus helping them boast short championship basketball odds at a sportsbook.
The Nuggets made good on their short NBA championship odds in 2023, as several of these moves helped them finish the deal.
With that said, what are the seven biggest trades in Nuggets history? Let’s find out.
7 Biggest Denver Nuggets Trades in Team History
1. George McGinnis for Alex English and First-Round Pick
Alex English was considered the best player in franchise history before Nikola Jokić came along, as he regularly averaged more than 25 points per game.
English scored the most points of any player in the 1980s, a decade that featured Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and Julius Erving.
English came over in a midseason trade from the Indiana Pacers in 1980.
2. Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and Renaldo Balkman for Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, First-Round Pick, First-Round Pick Swap, and Two Second-Round Picks
The Nuggets dealt Carmelo Anthony to his hometown New York Knicks in a three-team trade featuring the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2011.
Anthony is arguably the smoothest scorer next to Kevin Durant in NBA history, as he helped the Nuggets get to the playoffs in each of his seven full seasons in Denver.
The pick swap Denver got turned into Jamal Murray via the No. 7 overall pick in 2016. Murray provided the scoring punch necessary next to Jokić to secure the championship in 2023.
3. Kiki Vandeweghe for Fat Lever, Calvin Natt, Wayne Cooper, First-Round Pick and Second-Round Pick
Kiki Vandeweghe was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 1984, which brought in Fat Lever, Calvin Natt, and Wayne Cooper.
They all teamed up with English to help the Nuggets win 52 games and get to the Western Conference finals in 1985.
4. Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheikh Samb
Chauncey Billups returned to his hometown of Denver for a second stint in 2008 after a memorable run with the Detroit Pistons, which included winning Finals MVP in 2004.
He helped the Nuggets get to the Western Conference finals in 2009, as his basketball IQ and playmaking skills immediately brought a winning culture to the Mile High City.
5. Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and Two First-Round Picks for Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin
Iverson and Anthony were the top two scorers in the league when the two teamed up together following a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in December 2006.
Iverson still provided plenty of scoring, but the Nuggets weren’t able to get past the first round of the playoffs in two appearances.
A memorable duo for sure, but Billups was a much better fit with this team.
6. Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and First-Round Pick for Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark
Aaron Gordon, acquired from the Orlando Magic in February 2021, proved to be the all-around forward the Nuggets needed to pair with Jokić, Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. to win the championship in 2023.
Gordon provides a solid mix of scoring, playmaking, and switchable defence, as he thrives in pick-and-roll situations with Jokić.
7. Will Barton and Monte Morris for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith
The Nuggets acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Washington Wizards in 2022, and he proved to be the finishing piece of the Nuggets’ 2023 championship team.
His 3-point shooting and defence slotted in very well next to Jokič, Murray, Gordon, and Porter Jr.
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