It didn’t grab the front page. There was no flashy Shams bomb, no jaw-dropping swap of All-Stars. But when the Denver Nuggets sent Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets, they executed what may turn out to be the smartest offseason move of the year, turning one bloated contract into four valuable pieces.
MPJ was set to make $38.3 million this season and $40.8 million next year. For a streaky scorer with a long injury history, that was a financial handcuff Denver could no longer afford, especially with their depth deteriorating. So they flipped him into a four-man haul that’s equal parts practical and playoff-ready.
The main return piece was Cameron Johnson, acquired from Brooklyn in the Porter Jr. deal. Johnson will earn $21 million this year and $23 million next season, more than $15 million less annually than MPJ.
Johnson brings better defensive versatility, catch-and-shoot ability, and fewer ball-stopping habits, making him a seamless fit next to Nikola Jokic.
But Denver didn’t stop there.
Jonas Valanciunas was acquired in a separate trade with the Sacramento Kings, who received Dario Saric in return. Valanciunas fills a major gap the Nuggets have long struggled with: a reliable, bruising backup big who can rebound, set hard screens, and allow Jokic to rest without the team imploding defensively.
Valanciunas comes in on a $10.4 million deal for this season, and he’s owed $10 million next season, a bargain for one of the most physical, proven backup bigs in the NBA.
Then came the free-agent steals.
Tim Hardaway Jr., signed for just $3.63 million, brings microwave scoring off the bench, a perfect fit next to Christian Braun in second units.
And in a move that warmed the hearts of Nuggets fans everywhere, Bruce Brown returned to Denver on a $3.08 million deal. His defense, IQ, and championship chemistry with Jokic and Jamal Murray helped them lift the 2023 title, and his return instantly lifts the team’s ceiling.
Make no mistake, Michael Porter Jr.’s extension was a risk the Nuggets had to take in 2021. He was a 6’10” scorer with 20 PPG potential and All-Star upside. He helped bring Denver its first NBA title. But the injuries, lack of defensive growth, and rising luxury tax pressure forced a reset.
What Denver’s front office just pulled off is the definition of a contender’s pivot: no panic, no overreach, just smart, calculated depth-building around the best player in the world.
No, it wasn’t a blockbuster. But it might be the move that keeps the Nuggets in the hunt for another ring.
Jokic finally has help again. And Denver finally has balance.
