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On NBA Free Agency day, the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets consummated a trade that swapped shooting wings.
Michael Porter Jr. is 26 years old, 6’10”, 218 pounds and averaged 18.2 points per game last season while shooting 39% from downtown. Porter Jr. is a career 40% shooter from beyond the arc.
Cam Johnson is 28 years old, 6’8″, 210 pounds and averaged 18.8 points per game last season while shooting 39% from downtown. Johnson is a career 39% shooter from beyond the arc.
Neither player racks up defensive stats, but Porter Jr. does more work on the glass while Johnson is a better playmaker. Johnson is two years older but, Porter Jr. has two years left on his contract at $38.3 million and $40.8 million. Johnson has two years left on his contract at $21 million and $23 million.
Hence the inclusion of the unprotected first-round pick.
The Nuggets are built around Nikola Jokic, who made $51.4 mllion last season. Jamal Murray is second at $36 million. Porter Jr. was third at $35.8 million, but he struggled mightily in the playoffs last season, shooting 39% from the field and 34% from downtown. Denver now saves $17 million this season for a player in Johnson who is comparable in terms of shooting.
Right after finalizing the Porter Jr. trade for Johnson, the Nuggets then signed Bruce Brown Jr. to a one-year deal, per ESPNs Shams Charania.
Brown played for the Nuggets back in 2022-23, helping Denver win a championship. He started 31 of 80 games that season and averaged 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.1 treys. His versatility on both offense and defense were sorely missed after he signed with the Indiana Pacers the following season. Brown was rugged on defense while he was often the outlet at the nail on offense.
The Nets offense is going to a huck-and-chuck fest between Cam Thomas and Porter Jr. next season. The usage rate should spike for Porter Jr. in Brooklyn. That’s a good thing for fantasy. For real life? Probably not, but the Nets are rebuilding so it doesn’t really matter.
Denver gets better after the Porter Jr. trade. Not only do they shed salary, but Johnson is a very good shooter and his playmaking should mesh well with Jokic and Murray. In addition, bringing back Brown makes the team much better.
On June 29th, Denver was +1500 to win the NBA Championship, the seventh-lowest odds. After the trade and signing of Brown, Denver is +1500.
