Denver Traded Two Guards to Rebalance Its Rotation
On July 6, 2022, Denver sent Will Barton and Monte Morris to Washington and received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. The Nuggets had Nikola Jokić directing much of their offense and were planning around the returns of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., making off-ball defense and perimeter shooting important considerations. Caldwell-Pope had already established those skills during previous stops, while Smith offered experienced backup-point-guard coverage. Washington, seeking more immediate backcourt scoring and playmaking, obtained two veterans rather than draft picks or future conditional rights.
Caldwell-Pope Became a Championship Starter
Caldwell-Pope quickly became a core role player for Denver, defending opposing guards and spacing the floor without demanding the ball. He started during the Nuggets’ 2023 championship postseason and helped the team win its first NBA title. Smith also supplied reserve minutes and eventually shared in the championship run. Those are direct receiving-team results from the July 2022 exchange, not retroactive credit for Caldwell-Pope’s earlier Lakers title or Smith’s prior work around the league. Denver improved its fit around Jokić while keeping the main creators in place.
Washington Collected Established Backcourt Depth
Washington acquired two genuine NBA players, and the inherited failing grade obscures that fact. Morris could handle point-guard duties, while Barton supplied veteran wing scoring, even though his Wizards stay proved shorter than the team might have preferred. Barton’s productive years with Denver before the transaction did not transfer as new Washington minutes, and Morris’s later destinations must be evaluated independently. The Wizards did not receive additional first-round compensation in this deal. Their return was a present-day veteran backcourt, useful on paper but less durable than Denver’s new starting wing.
One Club Found a Title Fit and the Other Found Temporary Roles
This is a particularly clear example of fit producing more value than the combined reputations of the outgoing veterans. Denver paired Caldwell-Pope’s defense and shooting with Jokić’s playmaking and took a direct step toward championship-level lineup balance. Washington made a reasonable attempt to stock its guard rotation, though neither acquired player became a permanent cornerstone. A substantial Denver edge follows from actual 2022-23 play and the NBA title, while an upgraded Wizards grade acknowledges real player acquisitions rather than portraying Barton and Morris as empty consideration.
Final Verdict
Nuggets Win. Denver earns A+ because Kentavious Caldwell-Pope started on the 2023 championship team and Ish Smith supplied veteran reserve depth. Washington receives C+ for legitimate, if shorter-lived, Will Barton and Monte Morris guard minutes. Caldwell-Pope’s previous Lakers title and the departing Nuggets players’ earlier Denver seasons are excluded from the respective receiving-team returns.