The Denver Nuggets sit at 11-9 this season, looking like they’ll be battling to get out of the Play-In Tournament in an incredibly competitive Western Conference. The Nuggets are dealing with the slight regression of Jamal Murray and the overall depth of the roster being reduced over the last two seasons as the team has gone deeper into the apron and watched veterans leave in free agency. Nikola Jokic is still dominating, so the Nuggets need to make moves to remain competitive.
With Murray and Gordon being given contract extensions which make them untradeable this season, Michael Porter Jr. is the only needle-moving trade asset on the Nuggets who can bring back real value. It’s time that the Nuggets part ways with the 26-year-old forward in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets which lands them three winning players to make their rotation robust.
Trade Details
Denver Nuggets Receive: Cam Johnson, Cam Thomas, Bojan Bogdanovic, 2027 Second-Round Pick (BKN), 2029 Second-Round Pick (BKN)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Michael Porter Jr., Jalen Pickett, Zeke Nnaji
This deal might make the Nets give two of their prized assets away, but Porter Jr. is the best player in the deal and is a far more polished scorer than either Thomas or Johnson. He could be a piece to help them reach the salary floor next season and be the veteran on the franchise as they enter a rebuilding mode. His free-scoring will always be an asset that the Nets can rely on, on the court or in the trade market.
The Nuggets Add 3 Rotational Players For The Price Of 1
The Denver Nuggets’ rotation is genuinely threadbare, overly relying on unpolished youngsters to carry the backup load on what’s supposed to be a team competing for a title. Jokic is averaging video game numbers to keep their heads above the water, so they have to find a way to distribute production across the roster to make Jokic’s life easier.
Cam Thomas is averaging 24.7 points and could be the team’s go-to isolation scorer if Jamal Murray’s struggles continue. His value is surprisingly low as he’s considered a one-way player, but the Nuggets will give him the best chance to succeed as he’ll be expected to just provide a scoring spark.
Cam Johnson is averaging 18.5 points and 4.3 rebounds, proving to be a reliable wing scorer who has progressed defensively as well. He’s a proven role player and would excel as a floor-spacer next to Jokic and Aaron Gordon in the frontcourt.
Bojan Bogdanovic might not be the scorer he once was, but he’s a veteran two-way bench presence who could even be moved in a different deal. This brings tremendous value back to the Nuggets, although it takes away the top-line production of Porter Jr. as a star forward compared to these role-playing replacements.
The Nets Add A Piece To Grow Around
Michael Porter Jr. will likely never be the No. 1 option on a contending team, but he might be the perfect stopgap franchise No. 1 option for the Nets. If they get rid of most of their current veteran core, Porter Jr. can be a reliable No. 1 option as the youngsters around him find their feet. It’ll allow the Nets to feasibly tank for their 2025 pick while also having a player in place to help them get up to the salary floor.
He’s averaging 19.0 points and 7.2 rebounds this season, currently in a purple patch of form. He’s put up 20.3 points and 7.7 rebounds on 48.5% from three in his last five games, showing the full extent of his offensive skill set. Zeke Nnaji and Jalen Pickett could be potential long-term projects with minimal production right now but encouraging ceilings that can be met with development.
The Nets don’t own their 2026 pick outright, so having Porter Jr. for next season would be a big deal for the franchise if they want to make a Playoff push. They’d still have salary room left over to make a run at someone in free agency alongside their likely 2025 lottery pick and any other trades they want to make.
It’s clear the Nets don’t like being a tanking franchise, so Porter Jr. can serve as a conduit back to contention once their assets are in place.
The Nuggets Revive Their Season And Nets Set Their Future In Place
The Nuggets desperately need more diverse players on their roster, with this deal giving them three major offensive reinforcements next to Jokic. With the defensive identity of the franchise staying the same given they’re losing Porter Jr. Michael Malone can keep their defense playing at a good enough level to make a run back atop the West. Without these offensive reinforcements, it’s hard to see how they’ll stack up with top contenders without being entirely reliant on Jokic.
The Nets might not be contending now, but they won’t be looking to tank forever. This deal allows them to bottom out this season by giving Porter Jr. an unlimited green light till the end of the season with very little veteran depth around him. It’ll acclimatize him for next season when the Nets hope to start pushing up the standings again and being a contender with whatever assets their teardown this season lands them.
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