JUST IN: Denver Nuggets and Kings Trade Agreement Completed; The Nuggets Have Officially Land Sacramento Kings Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan In Blockbuster Trade.

NBA legend Paul Pierce has proposed a massive trade including the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets. The Boston Celtics legend had an intriguing notion on a recent episode of “KG Certified,” a podcast produced by fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Pierce believes the Nuggets should trade for six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan from the Kings, bringing Michael Porter Jr. to Sacramento. Pierce seemed to believe that the Nuggets’ nucleus of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and DeRozan can help them win another title after losing in the second round of the playoffs the previous two years. “For the next five years, if you got the best player, you got to put some pieces,” according to Pierce.

A 10-time All-Star, he was crowned NBA Finals MVP after leading the Celtics to victory in 2008. “I feel like if they had a DeMar DeRozan on that team right now, with Joker, he wouldn’t have to be the best or second-best player every night. He will give you more than Michael Porter Jr. gave you.” Scott Perry, the Kings’ general manager who took over for Monte McNair, is seeking to strengthen the roster. In 2023, the Kings won 48 games to end a 16-year playoff drought, but have lost in the play-in tournament the last two seasons.

DeRozan, 35, has been in the NBA for 16 seasons and is ranked 25th all-time in scoring. This season, he averaged 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for the Kings, shooting 47.7% from the field, 32.8% from three, and 85.7% from the line on 5.7 attempts per game. Last summer, the Kings acquired DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs. He is due $24.8 million next season, the second year of a three-year, $73.9 million contract. Porter, 26, is a 6-foot-10, 218-pound forward who can assist the Kings address their size, length, athleticism, and wing needs. He would fit well in a frontcourt that includes Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.

Porter averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this season, shooting 50.4% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. He’ll earn $38.3 million next season, the fourth year of a five-year, $179.3 million contract. The Kings would need to include more players to match Porter’s payroll, but that would not preclude a trade if both sides are serious in making a deal.