Why the Nuggets do this:

This team isn’t winning another championship despite having the best player in the world. Trade him at PEAK value and your future is completely set.

Why the Thunder do this:

Who’s stopping the two best players in the world on the same team plus JDub and Chet and an elite group of roleplayers? The Thunder picks won’t be valuable as this team will be deep into the second apron for the next decade if they keep everyone, and the other picks are Denver’s or not that valuable. Hartenstein, Wiggins, and and Williams are here for the money but I-Hart will be a fine interim C in Denver.