The Nuggets’ search for a glue guy who could raise their defensive ceiling dated back to the previous trade deadline, when they came close to acquiring Jrue Holiday from New Orleans, according to league sources. Their interest in Holiday, a lockdown 6-foot-4 guard, was partially driven by the idea that Steph Curry was still the league’s preeminent offensive threat. Even as Curry recovered from a broken hand during a gap year for Golden State, rival teams felt scarred by the dynasty that had dominated the last half-decade. If the Nuggets were going to take the throne out West, they wondered whether they would need to prioritize adding someone who could chase Curry around screens.