Washington Pursued Nenê and a More Experienced Interior Core
The Wizards traded young center JaVale McGee and reserve Ronny Turiaf to Denver in March 2012, obtaining veteran big man Nenê in return. Nenê had been a productive and versatile Denver frontcourt contributor, offering inside scoring, rebounding, passing and positional toughness. Washington also received Brian Cook and a future second-round selection from the Clippers, assets absent from the simplified Denver-centered original. The franchise chose a more established center even though Nenê carried his own availability and contract considerations.
Denver Accepted McGee's Defensive Potential
The Nuggets took McGee and Turiaf, along with conditional second-round consideration from the Clippers that could instead settle in cash. McGee was younger than Nenê and had shown unusual athleticism and shot-blocking ability during his Washington tenure. Denver could evaluate whether its coaching staff and existing roster would help him develop a more reliable role. Turiaf supplied an additional veteran reserve big. Neither acquisition immediately guaranteed the sort of offensive polish that Nenê had demonstrated, but the move changed Denver's frontcourt timeline.
The Clippers Received Nick Young, Not an Empty Transaction
Los Angeles obtained Nick Young from the Wizards, an experienced scoring guard with the ability to generate his own shot. The Clippers gave up Brian Cook and future second-round consideration in the exchange. Their incoming player mattered: the original Denver-only archive omitted Young, inaccurately presenting Los Angeles as a team that received nothing. A contemporary Nuggets release and the Wizards' official statement independently identify Young's destination. His previous Washington shooting totals were evidence of skill rather than games already played for his new club.
The Inherited Washington Advantage Accounts for Proven Value
The model's original grades give Washington B+, Denver C+ and Los Angeles C. Nenê's established two-way frontcourt role provides a coherent reason to favor the Wizards, with extra compensation strengthening their package. Denver's decision to take a younger shot blocker was a defensible developmental bet, and the Clippers sought a current bench scorer. The separate conditional draft obligations require careful handling; naming one future second twice could falsely inflate the return. With every incoming player restored, this is a meaningful three-team comparison rather than only a center swap.
Final Verdict
Wizards Win. Washington earns B+ for experienced center Nenê plus Brian Cook and a Clippers-linked 2015 second-round right. Denver receives C+ for JaVale McGee, Ronny Turiaf and separate conditional draft or cash compensation. Los Angeles gets C for acquiring Nick Young as immediate perimeter scoring depth. All three clubs received real assets, and the two future second-round references must be tracked separately.