The Philadelphia 76ers lost one potential trade partner if they want to move Paul George this offseason.
The Denver Nuggets traded 27-year-old small forward Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for 29-year-old power forward Cam Johnson, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
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
Porter is owed $79.1 million over the next two seasons, while Johnson will make $44.1 million. Both become free agents after the 2027 season.
The trade eliminates Denver as an option for the 76ers, who owe George $162 million over the next three years. ESPN NBA insider Zach Kram had proposed Philadelphia should trade George to Denver for Porter to get younger and reset their roster.
“[T]he 76ers could take a bigger swing by building a trade around Paul George for Michael Porter Jr. This deal would make sense for both sides: The Nuggets have been interested in George before, and he’d give them a higher ceiling around Nikola Jokic, while the 76ers would get younger and gain future financial flexibility with Porter. After how George’s first season in Philadelphia went, the team should pursue a reset if possible,” wrote Kram.
George missed 41 games in his first Philadelphia season due to injuries and averaged just 16.2 points, his lowest full-season total since his second year in the league.
Free agent Bruce Brown Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. The 2023 NBA champion for the Nuggets returns to Denver. CAA's Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann finalized the deal tonight with the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/YZV094pUs0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
The Nuggets also brought back Bruce Brown Jr., who helped Denver win the 2023 championship, on a one-year deal.
Matt Higgins worked in national and local news for 15 years. He started out as an overnight production assistant ... More about Matt Higgins