In the dizzying hours following Tuesday night’s four-team mega trade, which sent Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt of the Nuggets to Minnesota, in exchange for Houston’s first-round pick and a handful of Timberwolves role players, it was impossible not to consider what else Denver had planned.

Would that first-round pick, initially sent to Minnesota and then re-routed to Denver, yield something greater? The role players — guard Shabazz Napier, forward Keita Bates-Diop, forward Noah Vonleh and Houston guard Gerald Green (who was expected to be waived soon) — seemed mildly redundant. The Nuggets already had strong backups at both point guard (Monte Morris) and center (Mason Plumlee).

What was the logic?

Tuesday’s deal wasn’t to lure standout two-way guard Jrue Holiday out of New Orleans, as many have speculated, according to a person familiar with the Nuggets’ thinking. Even though the Nuggets now have two future first-round picks to dangle and a handful of expiring contracts, it’s unclear how motivated New Orleans is to shop Holiday ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.

Instead, Tuesday’s deal was more about addressing their own roster. It was no secret that Malik Beasley felt he deserved more playing time, and though he largely kept his frustrations in check as he bounced in and out of the lineup, it’s fair to wonder what sort of role Beasley would have if the Nuggets were entirely healthy. When they were, in November, Beasley averaged a season-low 4.5 points in 12.4 minutes per game

When he and the Nuggets failed to reach a contract extension in October, much of it was due to the fact that his role on the team wasn’t clearly defined. The Nuggets weren’t going to pay him starter-level money if, in fact, he wasn’t a starter. What’s more, after a breakout offensive season last year, he never really made the leap on the defensive end this season, which forced Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s hand.

Without clarity on Beasley’s role, and restricted free agency looming this summer, the Nuggets couldn’t pass on recouping a first-round pick after trading their own in last summer’s Jerami Grant deal.

Despite being beloved in the Nuggets locker room, Hernangomez badly needed a change of scenery. He was stuck behind rising star Michael Porter Jr. on the wing, and outside of injuries, had no clear path to consistent minutes. Related Articles Denver Nuggets vs. L.A. Lakers: Who has the edge, five things to watch and predictions

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When he did play, Hernangomez struggled, especially for a stretch shooter. Hernangomez shot a career-low 25% from 3-point range this season, including just three 3-pointers in all of January. In Minnesota, which has plummeted to the bottom of the Western Conference standings, there will hardly be the pressure there was in Denver.

Heading the Nuggets’ direction is Bates-Diop, who’s a young wing with good size and was shooting 33 percent from 3-point range. Just as important, his contract for 2020 is non-guaranteed. Napier, who’d started 22 games at point guard for the Timberwolves and averaged 9.6 points per game, is an unrestricted free agent this summer. The same goes for Vonleh, a forward with good size and defensive capability who could help Denver’s frontcourt amid the recent rash of injuries to Paul Millsap and Plumlee.

In other words, the Nuggets bought themselves significant financial flexibility in addition to a first-round pick. That it helped facilitate a deal to get Clint Capela out of Houston – an added benefit in case the Nuggets meet the Rockets in the playoffs – was a bonus.

Are they done tinkering ahead of Thursday’s 1 p.m. MST deadline? We have a day and a half to find out.

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