In a major move just two years after winning the NBA championship, the Denver Nuggets have reportedly traded Michael Porter Jr., a key member of their 2023 title run, to the Brooklyn Nets. Along with Porter Jr., Denver is sending an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn. In return, the Nuggets will receive forward Cameron Johnson.
Trade Details:
Nuggets receive: Cameron Johnson
Nets receive: Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick (unprotected)
The deal marks a significant shift for Denver, signaling a retooling around MVP center Nikola Jokić. Porter Jr., the 14th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, had his best season yet in 2024-25, averaging 18.2 points per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. His departure underscores Denver’s recent struggles to maintain depth since their championship win.
Over the past two seasons, Denver has lost several key contributors from that title team, including Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The losses have taken a toll—Denver has been knocked out of the Western Conference semifinals in back-to-back seasons.
Interestingly, reports also indicate that the Nuggets are close to bringing Bruce Brown back into the fold. Brown, a vital sixth man during their 2023 championship season, left in free agency but played last season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 8.2 points per game and shooting 35.6% from three-point range.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Cameron Johnson heads to Denver after having a breakout year with Brooklyn, posting 18.8 points per game and hitting 39% from three-point range. He’ll fill the frontcourt spot vacated by Porter Jr. and comes at a lower salary—roughly $12 million less per year—giving Denver more financial flexibility.
Johnson arrived in Brooklyn in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade at the 2023 deadline and was widely viewed as a potential trade piece for a rebuilding Nets team. His close friend and fellow former Sun, Mikal Bridges, was traded to the New York Knicks earlier this offseason in a deal that netted Brooklyn five first-round picks.
Brooklyn now adds Porter Jr. to a roster in flux, and he’ll likely take on a larger offensive role than he had in Denver. For the Nets, the trade continues a clear strategy: stockpile draft assets while developing young talent.
Porter Jr.’s career has been marked by ups and downs. Once a projected top-5 pick, he slipped to Denver at No. 14 due to concerns over a back injury that limited him to just three games at Missouri. He missed his entire rookie year after undergoing back surgery, but developed into a strong scorer and perimeter shooter during his time in Denver.
With this move, both franchises are making bold bets—Denver on immediate cost-saving versatility with Johnson, and Brooklyn on the upside of a still-young, high-ceiling scorer in Porter Jr.
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