MIN-DEN--"The one where they *didn't* trade Fournier"

[Minnesota Timberwolves]

Timberwolves send:

Al Horford     $9,000,000

Bryn Forbes     $1,500,000     $1,500,000     $1,500,000 (waived, presumably)

Nuggets Send:

Derrick Favors     $4,000,000     $4,000,000     $4,000,000

Justise Winslow     $3,900,000

Javale McGee     $3,000,000     $3,000,000     $3,000,000

The Denver Nuggets shed $0.4 million for the 2019-20 season.

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I had the best team for like five weeks and then I didn't and now I'm sad (Look, I didn't know Ingles was the team's chemistry guy, okay?). I say "adios" to Horford's safe floor and fatherly warmth, and instead am making the bet that Favors makes good on the hype (I like Favors and you can't stop me) and Winslow eventually remembers he is a basketball player (this is honestly much less important to me I just need him to be better than Bryn "not an NBA player" Forbes). Holding the McGee money is gross, but money has a way of moving around and so I'm just going to ignore it for a bit.

[Denver Nuggets]

I accept. I lose fantasy points this year keeping Len over Winslow, but should be able to find something as good or better than favors for 5.5 million next year, and 7 million the year after.

[Dallas Mavericks]

I like Denver's side of the deal. Nuggets is essentially dumping McGee while also getting the better player in Horford and getting out from under Favors' needlessly long $4m contract. I have no idea why Minnesota does this but he likes Favors and I can't stop him.

I approve.

[Phoenix Suns]

Favors and Winslow’s production roughly equals Horfords for roughly the same price this season.

Then Winslow disappears.

Nuggets is then left with eating 1.5m of Forbes in the future.

Wolves is on the hook for 7m 7m, getting only Favors 26 FPPG....

This seems like a clear win for Nuggets.

If Favors was going to breakout, seems like it would have occurred by now. Maybe Wolves is a genius and only he can see it, but I doubt it, and no evidence in 4 seasons has emerged of Wolves having a preternatural ability to spot breakouts.

I’m sure Denver’s paid website was guzzling the Derrick juice this off-season prompting him to trade for Favors, and Nuggets being happily led astray sniffing some other dogs butthole for Favors/Wright/Powell brought joy and light into my world.

To see him wriggle out of both Favors and McGees dead money and get Horford in return has ruined my Christmas.

I approve.

[Denver Nuggets]

Man, none of you have any respect for Favors. I plainly like my side of the deal better, but you act like Favors isn't a positive value contract. He is an incredible player. 

[Minnesota Timberwolves]

I also think Favors is good. Did I say that already? Trade passed and processed.