What can Jan Vesely, Aaron Brooks provide for the Denver Nuggets?

Feb 13, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Washington Wizards small forward Jan Vesely (24) before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets made a couple of deals on Trade Deadline day in the NBA. First, they would trade unhappy point guard Andre Miller to the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade to the Washington Wizards for Jan Vesely. The Philadelphia 76ers were the other trade partner in the deal and here is what each team got respectively.

76ers – Eric Maynor & two second-round draft picks.
Nuggets – Jan Vesely
Wizards – Andre Miller

Vesely could be a nice fit for this Denver Nuggets team heading into the second-half of the season. Vesely gives the Nuggets some much-needed height and length after starting center JaVale McGee suffered a fractured tibia earlier in the season and will now be out indefinitely. Denver has been going with a small starting line-up consisting of two power-forwards, J.J. Hickson (6-foot-9) and Kenneth Faried (6-foot-8) that hasn’t helped out much on the glass.

It is still uncertain how much the newly acquired Vesley will play, but could make an impact in Brian Shaw‘s offense. For those of you who don’t know much about Jan, he was the sixth overall pick back in the 2011 NBA Draft out of the Czech Republic. Vesely has given many people the reason to label him as a bust due to the fact he has only averaged 3.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks for his career. Maybe perhaps the 23-year-old power forward just needed a change of scenery — we will see.

As for the second and final trade at the deadline, the Nuggets would ship small forward Jordan Hamilton to the Houston Rockets in exchange for point guard Aaron Brooks. Hamilton has been in-and-out of the Nuggets lineup this season due to his below-average defense and questionable shot selection. The Nuggets were in dire need of a back-up point guard to Ty Lawson and they found their man in Aaron Brooks.

Dec 2, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks (0) dribbles up the court during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets were talking to the New York Knicks about swapping Hamilton for Beno Udrih, but management did the right decision upping the talent level for Brooks. Brooks has been a steady NBA point guard throughout his five-year career, playing for three different teams (HOU, PHX, SAC). Brooks put his best season together back in 2009-10′ with the Rockets where he averaged 19.6 points per game, 5.3 assists, and shot 39.8% percent from the field.

Brooks can be a perfect fit in the second-unit with Timofey Mozgov and Darrell Arthur on the pick-and-roll where he likes to take that medium-range jumper. That could benefit Mozgov on the roll and Arthur who loves to shoot the medium-range jumper as well.

Both Jan Vesely and Aaron Brooks are expected to join the Denver Nuggets when they take on the Chicago Bulls Friday night on ESPN. Brooks could possibly find himself in the starting lineup with the injury to Ty Lawson who continues to nurse a fractured rib.