The Nuggets’ long-standing quest for a defensive cornerstone to elevate their team’s capabilities began before the prior trade deadline, nearly landing Jrue Holiday from New Orleans, league sources confirmed. Their pursuit of Holiday, a formidable 6-foot-4 defensive specialist, stemmed largely from the continued belief that Steph Curry represented the league’s top offensive threat. Even with Curry on the mend from a broken hand during Golden State’s less dominant season, rival teams remained apprehensive due to the dynasty he had spearheaded for the past five years. The Nuggets considered whether securing the Western Conference crown would necessitate bringing in a player specifically tasked with hounding Curry through screens.