How would both Ron Artest and Mike Miller look in Nuggets' powder blue?  According to NBA sources, the aforementioned scenario may not be as far-fetched as it initially appears.

Nene's name has come up in trade discussions with the Sacramento Kings.  Denver could trade Nene straight up for Ron Artest.  This would obviously be a risk for the Kings given Nene's injury history and the four years left and over $40-million left on his contract.  However, the reward could be huge as well for Sacramento.  When healthy, Nene is one of the better two-way post players in the game.  And it's just not easy in the current NBA landscape to find guys who can score with their back to the baskets, play defense and run the floor the way Nene can.

For Denver, this would be a move which shows they want to win right now.  As such, the Nuggets could be mortgaging their future to some degree.  That said, the risk might be worth it given the current climate in the Western Conference.  Also, there's no guarantee Nene will ever be able to stay healthy and reach his full potential.

As if one deal wasn't enough to ponder, the Nuggets could conceivably make another move.  In addition to talks with the Kings, the Nuggets have also been engaged in dialogue with the Memphis Grizzlies about both Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry.  There are a couple of possibilities here:

1) The Nuggets trade Eduardo Najera, Linas Kleiza and Von Wafer to Memphis for Miller.  This may seem like a lot to give up for Miller, but his outside shooting would no doubt prove invaluable for Denver.  In addition to giving up three players for one, this deal also wouldn't yield the Nuggets Lowry, a player they would prefer to acquire in any deal with Memphis.

2) The Nuggets trade Najera, J.R. Smith and Wafer to Memphis for Miller and Lowry.  The Nuggets could also throw in next year's number one pick just to sweeten the pot as Memphis has made it known they would like to have as many picks as possible in next June's NBA Draft.  It is also worth noting all three players Denver would send to Memphis in this deal are in the final year of their current contracts meaning the Grizzlies could trim quite a bit off of their payroll if they so desired this summer.

The second deal with Memphis would seem to make the most sense for Denver since they would get another point guard as well as a shooter.  However, if the Grizzlies wanted Kleiza instead of Smith, the second deal with Memphis would not work financially.

Obviously, there are many details that must be worked out for both deals to come to fruition, and there are likely other permutations of the deals mentioned which are currently being discussed.  Heck, it's hard enough to get one trade consummated these days let alone a pair.  That said, the Nuggets are trying hard to make a splash before the February 21st trade deadline.  And what better way to do it than by completing two deals which would address seemingly all of the team's weaknesses by bringing in defense, outside shooting and additional depth at the point guard position?

Most years you might say it would be outrageous for a team as talented as the Nuggets to even consider making two big trades mid-season.  Thing is, the Western Conference is just crazy enough this year that the Nuggets might have to do it just to keep pace.

Stay tuned...