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Brooklyn Nets: Breaking down the Nuggets deal — who won?

ByChris Milholen|
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 24: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball during a game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 24: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball during a game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Brooklyn Nets
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 24: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball during a game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets made major moves late Thursday. Brooklyn traded Jeremy Lin to the Atlanta Hawks and made a huge trade with the Denver Nuggets moments later. Let’s break down the Nets-Nuggets trade.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Brooklyn Nets not only traded Jeremy Lin to the Atlanta Hawks but made a huge trade with the Denver Nuggets.

The Nets needed to trade Lin and his salary in order to make the Nuggets deal happen. Well, Sean Marks did just that. Now, lets break down the trade.

The Nets get forwards Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur, Denver’s 2019 first-round pick (top-12 protected) and a future second-rounder in exchange for guard Isaiah Whitehead

Let’s start with the Denver Nuggets motive behind the trade.

Denver Nuggets Motive

The Denver Nuggets were in serious cap space trouble. It was very important for Denver to move some contracts out in order to lower their potential luxury tax bill.

According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, now that Denver cleared Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur off their books, Denver saved a combined $43 million in salary and in luxury tax.

Earlier Thursday night, Denver signed Isaiah Thomas to a one-year $2 million deal. Thomas’ deal was a good move for Denver, but increased their number of guaranteed contracts. Well, it only took a couple hours to get rid of some guaranteed contracts.

Trading away Faried and Arthur cuts the amount of guaranteed contracts Denver had from 16 to 14.

In the trade, Denver picked up guard Isaiah Whitehead from Brooklyn. Whitehead had trouble getting playing time in Brooklyn and played a huge majority of the 2017-18 season with the Long Island Nets in the G-League.

Whitehead is a good guard who plays well on both ends of the floor. Whitehead e is expected to be waived by Denver, according to Wojnarowski.

Overall, the trade was a salary dump for Denver. The Nuggets have been trying to trade Faried dating back to last season. Now that he is off their books, Denver has accomplished its must-make move of the offseason.

Now that we understand Denver’s side of the trade, lets see what Brooklyn’s motive was behind the trade.