Michael Porter Jr, a key player in the Denver Nuggets title run two years ago, has been traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with an unprotected first rounder in 2032. Going west: Cam Johnson.
Shams Charania was first with news...
BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets are trading Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/o6rdWhu3Rl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
Shams colleague, Ramona Shelburne, responded to the news saying “the Nets are excited about MPJ and the intention is to keep him.”
The trade brings to Brooklyn a 6’10” 27-year-old with a career 16.2 point average and 50/41/80 shooting splits. Last season, MPJ scored 18.2 points on 50/40/77 not much different from CamJ’s 18.8 points on 48/89 shooting. Porter Jr. however is two years younger ... and with far more playoff experience, 75 compared to 38.
The big difference is in salary. Porter Jr. will make $33.3 million in 2025-26 but is guaranteed only $12.0 million oof the $40.8 million the year after. Johnson has two years guaranteed on his deal, $21.1 million this coming year and $23.1 million in 2025-26.
The disparity in salary will reduce the Nets salary cap flexibility as Yossi Gozlan tweeted.
The Brooklyn Nets have $17 million in cap space after swapping Cameron Johnson for Michael Porter Jr.
They can get to $25 million by waiving all non-guaranteed players. pic.twitter.com/u89ppMqIDh
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 30, 2025
MPJ has been relatively healthy the last several years after experiencing back issues that required three surgeries that short-circuited his career.
The second rounder while seven years in the future is unprotected and likely to be beyond Nikola Jokic’s prime.