Wilson Chandler wants out of Denver

As the NBA’s Feb. 23 trade deadline approaches, the Denver Nuggets arre widely seen as a team that will likely be active. And if 29-year-old forward Wilson Chandler has his way, all that trade chatter will lead to him changing jerseys sometime soon.

According to two people with knowledge of Chandler’s situation, the player who came to Denver as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal six years ago wants to be traded. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

Chandler’s frustration, according to the people, is born out of the inconsistency with his role. While he’s having a career year, averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, two assists and 30.2 minutes per game for a 21-27 Nuggets team that is currently ninth in the Western Conference, he hasn’t started since Jan. 12 – a win over Indiana in which he had 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and had a plus-22 rating.

The recent decision of Nuggets coach Mike Malone to reinsert forward Kenneth Faried into the starting lineup moved Chandler to a reserve role, with Danilo Gallinari filling the starting small forward spot (though he injured his groin in a loss to Memphis on Wednesday night). In all, Chandler – who had just four points (two of six shooting) in 25 minutes against the Grizzlies – has started in 13 of 44 games.

While it’s not believed that Chandler has requested a trade, the Nuggets – who currently owe him a combined $36 million for this season and next two (player option in 2018-19) – are known to be aware of his concerns. The only question now is which team might step up to help get a deal done.

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The NBA’s recent summer of skyrocketing salaries may help the market for Chandler, as his annual salary ($11.2 million this season) isn’t nearly as exorbitant as was once perceived. Such is life in today’s NBA, where the cap – which was $63 million just two seasons ago before the nine-year, $24 billion television rights deal with Turner and ESPN changed everything - is expected to be $102 million next season. As such, and with max contract players making upwards of $30 million annually, productive players like Chandler will come at their own elevated premium in the league’s unprecedented landscape.

Chandler’s hope, it’s quite clear, is to stop paying a price of his own for the way the Nuggets' roster was built.