The Denver Nuggets are trading Bol Bol to Detroit Pistons for Rodney McGruder and a second-round pick, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday.
Bol Bol will have the chance to receive more minutes and prove his worth as an NBA player. Bol Bol has been on his third season in the NBA since the Nuggets selected him in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
He is on an expiring contract and becomes a restricted free agent next summer, so the Pistons can get a long look at him the rest of the season before making a call.
The 7-foot-2 Bol has not been able to earn any significant playing time, appearing in 15 games this season. He averaged 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds.
“Nuggets are acquiring a 2022 second-round pick via Brooklyn in Bol deal, sources tell ESPN.”
Adrian Wojnarowksi, ESPN
On a young rebuilding roster like the Pistons, Bol could have a more significant role. McGruder is a veteran guar, who has been bounced around the league since entering the NBA in 2016. He could now be another option for the Nuggets’ undermanned roster, if he remains with the team.
Denver is playing without superstar guard Jamal Murray, two-way wing PJ Dozier and scoring wing Michael Porter Jr. All three of them are out recovering for potential season ending injuries. At the top of that, it never hurts to add another second-round pick to an organization with so much success on finding talent there.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic was a second rounder, as was Monte Morris, who has become an important part of the team’s rotation in the last few seasons.
The Nuggets are barely over 500. with a 19-18 record, which is ranked as the seventh best in the tough West. On the other side, the Pistons are hoping for another high lottery pick next summer having the second worst record in the NBA (8-30).
