Stop sleeping on Ryan Nembhard. The 23-year-old point guard just got moved to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that sent Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta, and now Denver is circling. The Nuggets need a backup guard who can actually run the offense, and Nembhard looks like the answer. He proved he can handle the pressure against Denver before, and now he might be just a waiver wire signature away from playing in the West.
The Trade Moves Players, Not Just Paper
The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets finalized a swap that changes the roster makeup for both sides. Shams Charania reports that Dorian Finney-Smith was acquired by the Hawks from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash. This move clears space for Atlanta while giving Charlotte more shooting options. Nembhard is the key piece here because he is a young guard with real playmaking skills who might not fit the Hornets’ plan. The Nuggets are watching closely because they know exactly what he can do.
Denver Needs Depth Behind Murray
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray carry the load, but the bench needs help. The current options behind Murray are Tyus Jones and K.J. Simpson, which leaves a lot of questions about consistency. Nembhard showed he could handle the big stage during the regular season. Against the Nuggets in December, he posted a double-double of 28 points and 10 assists while committing zero turnovers. That performance proved he can play against elite competition without making mistakes. If Denver signs him, they get a player who has already beaten them and knows their system.
The Shooting Floor Gets Higher
The Hornets are stacking shooters, which makes Nembhard expendable for them. Andy Bailey noted on social media that the Hornets now have Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Coby White, Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and now Buddy Hield. He further noted that the single-season record of 1,457 threes could be achievable. With so many guards who shoot well, Nembhard might not see enough minutes in Charlotte to develop. Denver offers a better path to playing time and a chance to grow into a solid rotation piece. The Hawks cleared $2.1M in trade exceptions while the Hornets created a $4.5M trade exception per reports.
