The Denver Nuggets are loading up for an additional championship run, they usually’re keen to danger their future to do it.
The Nuggets acquired Cameron Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets on Monday evening for Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round draft decide. Minutes later, the Nuggets introduced again outdated pal Bruce Brown in free company. As one member of Denver’s 2023 championship workforce exits in Porter, one other one enters in Brown.
Johnson had the most effective yr of his profession with the Brooklyn Nets final season. He averaged 18.8 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and three.4 assists per sport on elite 63.2 p.c true capturing. Johnson turns 30 in March and has a repute as top-of-the-line wing shooters within the NBA. Porter simply turned 27 years outdated, however has battled again and foot issues all through his profession, and performed by way of a shoulder harm in the course of the 2025 playoffs.
An unprotected 2032 decide is a steep worth to pay to improve from Porter Jr. to Johnson. Was it price it from the Nuggets? Let’s grade this deal from each side.
Nuggets commerce grades for Cameron Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. commerce
It felt just like the Nuggets have been on the doorstep of one other championship this previous season regardless of dropping within the second spherical of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Denver took the eventual champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a Sport 7, and if Aaron Gordon didn’t endure an premature hamstring harm, they may have received.
Johnson is a implausible slot in Denver. He’s top-of-the-line three-point shooters within the NBA, and his off-ball scoring is an ideal match subsequent to Nikola Jokic’s good playmaking. Whereas Johnson has by no means been recognized for his protection, he nonetheless graded out as a greater participant than Porter at each ends of the ground final season by EPM.
Johnson is coming off a yr the place he made 39 p.c of his threes on 7.2 makes an attempt per sport. He additionally made 89.3 p.c of his free throws. The Nuggets will take a step again within the rebounding division by swapping Porter for Johnson, however Johnson is a significantly better passer who additionally will get to the foul line extra. Porter has really been extra sturdy over the previous couple of years, however Johnson looks like a greater wager to remain more healthy sooner or later as a result of he doesn’t have the identical nagging accidents that MPJ has endured.
Johnson’s contract can also be way more team-friendly than the one Porter Jr. is on. Johnson has two years and $42 million remaining on his deal. Porter Jr. has two years and $79 million left on his deal.
Johnson is an elite position participant who’s getting into basketball nirvana with Jokic and Aaron Gordon flanking him. The Nuggets want Jamal Murray to remain wholesome and productive, however they moved nearer to profitable the 2026 championship with this transfer. My solely hesitation right here is the 2032 unprotected draft decide — a steep worth to pay for this improve on the wing.
I’m in favor of the Nuggets utilizing the decide as a commerce chip. Jokic will likely be 37 years outdated in 2032 and on the very finish of his profession, if he’s even nonetheless enjoying. The Nuggets’ championship window is true now with Jokic in his prime, they usually owe it to a generational famous person to go all-in on making an attempt to get one other championship. For as nice because the Thunder have been within the common season, they appeared shaky within the playoffs. Denver pushed them to the brink even with some unhealthy luck, they usually’re higher now.
Might Denver have gotten a greater participant than Johnson by dangling its unprotected 2032 decide? That’s my solely actual hang-up right here. This feels just like the Nuggets’ large swing for the foreseeable future, which suggests it must be the one to place them excessive. I prefer it, however would like to know what else was on the market.
Nuggets grade: B+
Nets commerce grades for Michael Porter Jr. commerce
The Nets have been the one workforce within the NBA with actual cap house as free company began. They used it to land a premium asset in Denver’s unprotected 2032 decide. The decide will turn out to be useful when Brooklyn is able to swing a commerce for a famous person, however for now they’re simply tremendous persevering with their rebuild.
The Nets are planning to select on the prime of the 2026 NBA Draft once more — hopefully in a greater place than the No. 8 total decide they landed in 2025. Johnson had no place on a rebuilding workforce. Porter Jr. will assist give the Nets some spacing and capturing to assist their younger ball handlers develop as Johnson exits. It is a excellent commerce for the Nets after a extremely questionable draft for the franchise.
The Nets have now flipped Mikal Bridges and Johnson for superior returns following their Kevin Durant commerce to Phoenix. Brooklyn has put itself in an enviable place of getting a clear cap sheet and ton of ammunition to commerce for a star. If the Nets land a top-3 decide in a loaded 2026 NBA Draft, anticipate an acceleration commerce to occur sooner quite than later.
The Nets raised Johnson’s worth and moved off him on the perfect time. Brooklyn is loading up, even when they aren’t prepared for his or her subsequent step but.
Grade: A
