'Growing Pessimism' Emerges Around Nuggets Acquiring Former All-Star

The idea of using Michael Porter Jr. as a trade chip before the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 6 has picked up considerable momentum. So has the idea of acquiring two-time All-Star Zach Lavine from the Chicago Bulls.

Putting that trade together for both sides seems less likely now than it did previously, according to the latest report from Michael Scotto.

"There’s been growing pessimism that Chicago Bulls two-time All-Star Zach LaVine would be traded to the Denver Nuggets in a package for Michael Porter Jr., league sources told HoopsHype."

Much has been made of the bad contract that LaVine currently possesses. However, it is another player's financial situation that appears to be the barrier to getting this deal done, according to Scotto.

"Chicago doesn’t want to absorb Zeke Nnaji’s four-year, $32 million contract and would need to offload him to a third team, such as the Detroit Pistons, who have $14 million in cap space going into the trade deadline to be a third party facilitator in trades to acquire future draft capital. Chicago doesn’t want to waste any assets having to flip Nnaji to a third team, and Denver lacks the future draft capital likely needed to make it happen on their end."

If the Bulls are unwilling to strike a deal with the Nuggets due to Nnaji's contract, Denver may have to turn back to the drawing board and look for new ways to potentially improve their team.

The Nuggets currently occupy the 5th spot in the Western Conference, with a record of 18-13. While they are far from a situation where a championship is completely unattainable with the roster they have, it is difficult to imagine them competing in a seven-game series with the juggernauts of the conference like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Dallas Mavericks.