The Denver Nuggets have interest in participating in a multi-team trade with the Houston Rockets even if they don't end up acquiring James Harden. 

The Rockets are known to be targeting Michael Porter Jr. as a young player with All-Star potential. It is not known what type of return the Nuggets would seek if they included Porter. The Nuggets have had interest in Jrue Holiday and Bradley Beal in recent months.

Denver has made Jamal Murray untouchable in Harden talks.

The Houston Rockets may be targeting specific players they want to acquire in a James Harden trade as much as they are looking to send him to a specific trade, which puts

"There's been a lot of rumors, and I think they're true, that Houston in the Harden stuff is targeting... I think they're targeting more players than teams. One of the players that's on their list to target is Michael Porter Jr."

According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Rockets' interest in a trade with the Nuggets "centered firmly" on Porter.

The Nuggets were one of numerous teams to call the Rockets with interest in a trade for Harden, but sources tell Singer that those talks haven't gained any traction.

Media reports have consistently indicated the Nuggets consider Porter to be untouchable in trade talks.

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Arturo Galletti (@AmericanNumbers) break down the over/unders for the Western Conference.

They discuss the win total, division, conference and title odds as well as any pertinent individual award lines for the Thunder (3:12), Kings (9:53), Timberwolves (16:43), Spurs (25:44), Grizzlies (32:48), Pelicans (38:36), Rockets (43:43), Suns (51:17), Warriors (57:16), Trail Blazers (1:11:11), Jazz (1:19:53), Mavericks (1:27:25), Nuggets (1:32:47), Clippers (1:45:05) and Lakers (1:54:52).

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on iTunes or via the RSS feed. 

Gary Harris has battled a variety of injuries since the 17-18 when he was beginning a four-year, $84 million extension. The Denver Nuggets reportedly included Harris in trade talks this offseason with a number of teams.

"A big factor for them also will be Gary Harris, who frankly, they tried to trade several different places over the offseason," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast. "When he plays well, he is a big difference maker for them. He says he's healthy, so we'll see how that plays out."

Harris didn't make his debut in the bubble until Game 6 of their first round series against the Utah Jazz. During the playoffs, Harris averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27.1 minutes per game.

While specific teams were not mentioned by ESPN, the Nuggets presumably at the very least offered Harris in a package to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jrue Holiday

The Denver Nuggets have an issue determining their starting lineup this season due to the emergence of Michael Porter Jr., but Will Barton has gone on record indicating he's not interested in a Sixth Man role.

“I am a starter,” Barton said. “I have no plans on being a sixth man. I have no desire to be that.”

Even as a starter, Barton was a player who bridged the starting unit with the second unit. Barton was a secondary playmaker next to Jamal Murray and he would maintain that role when Monte Morris entered the game.

“My job isn’t to keep anybody happy,” Mike Malone said. “If I wanted to keep people happy I’d sell ice cream for a living. I have to make tough decisions and as we move forward to that season opener, the tough decisions will have to be made.”

Monte Morris has agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension with the Denver Nuggets.

Morris could have become an unrestricted free agent in 2021. Morris was the 51st overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Iowa State.

Morris averaged 9.6 points and 3.5 assists over 155 games in the past two seasons with the Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have a high level of confidence in Michael Porter Jr. as he has in himself.

Porter was asked by Kendra Andrews of The Athletic if he's ready to become Denver's third star alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and his answer was simple.

"Yeah, I am," replied Porter.

Defense has been the issue for Porter and it is something he's worked on this offseason.

“It’s something I am taking head-on,” Porter said. “This is something I want to do. I want to be one of the best players and I want to guard the best players and I want the best players on the other team to guard me.”

Porter will likely start this season.

“Him taking another step forward is going to be huge, regardless of position,” Nuggets president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly said. “We saw flashes of it last year.”