The Denver Nuggets looked like a team on fumes by the end of the 2025 playoffs. After winning it all in 2023 and staying near the top since, they came crashing down in their second-round loss, due in large part to the underwhelming play of Michael Porter Jr., who shrank under postseason pressure yet again.
Now, with the Western Conference more brutal than ever, the Nuggets may be ready to reshuffle their core to better support Nikola Jokic before his prime starts to narrow or before he asks out.
That brings us to this eye-catching three-team deal that could send shockwaves through the league. The Los Angeles Lakers, desperate for a long-term anchor at center, find a perfect fit. The Brooklyn Nets, sitting in NBA purgatory, roll the dice on an upside swing.
And Denver? They may walk away with two intriguing Lakers pieces and a lottery pick that could extend their championship window and retool on the fly. The names involved are big, the logic behind it is sound, and this proposal actually makes a lot of sense for all sides.
Proposed Trade Details
Denver Nuggets Receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2025 No. 8 Overall Pick
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nic Claxton
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Michael Porter Jr., 2025 No. 55 Overall Pick
Denver Nuggets Move Porter Jr. For Two Key Pieces Around Nikola Jokic
The Michael Porter Jr. experiment in Denver has been a rollercoaster, and the Nuggets are off track. Despite his smooth shooting stroke and impressive athleticism (18.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG during the regular season), MPJ has routinely fallen short when it matters most.
In this year’s second-round exit, he shot a miserable 32.2% from the field and 25.0% from three and disappeared for long stretches, leaving Nikola Jokic to shoulder the offensive burden alone. The Nuggets are trying to remain elite, and Porter’s inconsistency has proven to be a serious obstacle to that mission.
Enter Rui Hachimura (13.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG) and Dalton Knecht (9.1 PPG, 37.6% 3-PT FG), plus a top-10 pick. Hachimura is no star, but he’s exactly the type of playoff-tested, two-way wing who can thrive next to Jokic. He doesn’t need the ball, he’s efficient in his spots, and he’s shown a reliable mid-range game.
Knecht, meanwhile, is a sneaky good get, a shot-maker with real upside, especially in a system that values movement and passing. And that No. 8 overall pick? That could be Denver’s next Jamal Murray-type gem. The Nuggets get cheaper, deeper, and more flexible without sacrificing their identity.
Los Angeles Lakers Finally Acquire New Starting Center
For the Lakers, this is the kind of deal they’ve needed to pounce on for years. With Luka now on board alongside LeBron, the team has experimented with stopgap centers this season, but they’ve never found a long-term fit. Nic Claxton changes that instantly.
The 26-year-old is one of the league’s most mobile bigs, averaging 1.4 blocks and 7.4 rebounds per game this season while anchoring Brooklyn’s defense. He’s still ascending, and his skill set, rim-running, shot-blocking, and switchability, pair perfectly with LeBron and Luka in the short term, and he’s even better when the latter takes the torch moving forward.
Yes, giving up Rui Hachimura, Knecht, and a lottery pick stings, but not if you’re going all-in to win now and build a sustainable roster post-LeBron. Claxton is young enough to bridge both timelines and fills the exact role the Lakers have been lacking for years.
This trade lays the foundation for JJ Redick to have a consistent defensive identity. Claxton won’t be asked to do too much offensively, and in Los Angeles, that’s a good thing. It’s a win-now move with future upside baked in.
Brooklyn Nets Continue Building Their Franchise Core
Michael Porter Jr. might be the kind of swing Brooklyn needs to take. Sure, he’s had his flaws, especially on defense and under playoff pressure, but when healthy and confident, Porter Jr. is a 6’10” sniper with effortless scoring ability, and he is only 26 years old.
In a low-pressure environment like Brooklyn, where expectations are reset and development takes precedence, MPJ could rediscover the rhythm that made him a near-All-Star just two seasons ago. He’d instantly be the team’s most dynamic perimeter scorer and give the Nets a legit 20-point threat who can stretch the floor and occasionally take over quarters.
The beauty of this deal for Brooklyn is that they flip Claxton into a long-term bet. There’s risk, yes, but also real reward, because Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas can be part of the core to take the team forward.
They’ve already committed to a rebuild, especially after shipping out Mikal Bridges midseason. Bringing in MPJ gives them a name, a scorer, and someone who still fits the age curve of their young core. It’s a gamble, but the right kind of gamble for a franchise with little to lose and everything to gain.
