As NBA trade season drifts nearer, a bunch of teams around the league are primed to make big-time deals. The Boston Celtics aren’t going to be one of those squads (even though they are likely to make a small deal by the deadline). The Denver Nuggets, on the other hand, seem to be all-in on a trade.
According to Sam Amick and Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Nuggets are interested in a bunch of different players who could help bolster their offense. “The Nuggets have either expressed interest in, or have had preliminary trade discussions on the following players: Chicago’s Zach LaVine, Washington’s Jordan Poole, Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter, Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas,” they wrote.
The most notable name on that list is LaVine, who is having a solid season for the Chicago Bulls this year. However, his contract is still brutal.
Zach LaVine's knee injuries could mirror Kemba Walker's
And the Nuggets could soon realize something that the Celtics had to deal with many years ago with Kemba Walker.
When the Celtics acquired Walker in free agency, everything was great. He enjoyed an underrated All-Star season in Boston in his first year, helping them get all the way to the Eastern Conference finals. But injuries caught up to him.
Knee issues plagued Walker throughout his entire career. From his time in Charlotte to his time in Boston, Walker’s knees were always a problem.
He missed games throughout the 2019-2020 season, and the next year, he had to get a stem cell injection in his knee. Then, when he joined the New York Knicks the following summer, he was never the same player.
Like Walker, knee problems have been a chronic issue for LaVine.
In two seasons from 2016 to 2018, LaVine only played 71 games due to his knee problems. Last season, it was a foot issue that kept LaVine out, but still, injuries took away his season.
Right now, LaVine is playing very well, but so was Walker in his first season with the Celtics. For a guy with as big of an injury history as LaVine, there’s always a risk his ailments could flare up again, especially the knee problems.
While knee injuries may go away, the effects often linger, and Walker and the Celtics understand that better than anyone.
Perhaps if the Nuggets trade for LaVine, everything will work out. But they also run the risk of dealing with the same problems that the Celtics had to endure with Walker.
Knee issues are a plague, and quick or athletic guards have to deal with them a ton. LaVine’s injury history isn’t exactly like Walker’s, but they’re similar enough to take note of.