The name that seems to surface most frequently, for obvious reasons given his recent trade request, is disgruntled Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson.  There has been speculation in Denver that the Nuggets could cash in the team's largest TPE in exchange for Jackson.

While this sounds good on paper there is one major problem: Denver's largest TPE has been whittled down to just $7.4 million as a result of the moves the team made this summer.  Meanwhile, Jackson is scheduled to make $7,650,000.  What this means is that Denver does not have enough money left on the team's largest exception to acquire Jackson.  Moreover, since teams can't combine exceptions and also can't send out players along with the exception, the Nuggets simply can't acquire Stephen Jackson with its TPE.

Sorry to rain on the parade, folks, but Jackson is likely not coming to Denver -- at least not via the Nuggets' TPE.  And given the fact J.R. Smith is due less money, is younger, and has a shorter contract, the Nuggets would have likely been content without Jackson, anyway.  Whatever the case, the debate about Jackson coming to Denver via the team's trade exception is an academic one.

Sources close to the team indicated that the Nuggets likely will not use the team's largest trade exception prior to its expiration date of November 3rd on any player.  There simply haven't been any offers worth listening to.  It's also worth noting that most teams around the league aren't interested in making big deals early in the season.  Instead, teams are trying to get a feel for what they have.

If you're a Nuggets' fan the TPE to keep an eye on is the one the team acquired in the Chucky Atkins deal last January that is valued at approximately $3.3 million.  That exception is due to expire on January 7th of 2010.  By that time the Nuggets will have had ample opportunity to evaluate its roster and other teams who came out of the gates slow may be looking to slash payroll and/or shakeup the roster meaning there will likely be more teams around the league willing to swing a deal.