Report: Nuggets want 1st, swap rights for either Gallinari or Chandler
The Denver Nuggets are hoping to recoup some value for their veteran wings.
Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler are available despite Denver's push for the eighth playoff seed in the West, and the price for either would be a lottery-protected first-round pick and swap rights on another pick, sources told ESPN's Zach Lowe.
The Nuggets are confident they can sustain their playoff push even without one of Gallinari or Chandler, Lowe reports. Denver has younger contributors like Gary Harris and Will Barton ready to claim more minutes.
The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers were already believed to have interest in Gallinari, and both teams appear generally interested in adding rotation help - especially on the wing - before the trade deadline.
Gallinari struggles to stay healthy, but the Italian sharpshooter is a versatile threat on offense. He can stretch the floor from either forward position, and pairs his quick-release jumper with a shifty slashing game that draws fouls by the handful. The 28-year-old is averaging 17.2 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 38.1 percent from deep and earning six free-throw attempts per game.
Chandler isn't as deadly a scorer, although he offers more defense than Gallinari. The 29-year-old has mostly served as Denver's sixth man, and is reportedly interested in a change of scenery. He is averaging 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds.
Gallinari is essentially an expiring contract, since he's reportedly leaning toward declining his $16-million player option for 2017-18, while Chandler has two more years left on his contract at $12 million per season after this year.