The Denver Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to reduce their long-term salary commitments and create flexibility under the cap, while bringing back Bruce Brown to restore the versatile defense and bench depth they lost after their 2023 championship run.
The Denver Nuggets have agreed to trade a key piece of their 2023 championship team, Michael Porter Jr., to the Brooklyn Nets.
2-pointers this season
Denver Nuggets
NBA
As part of the deal, Denver will also send an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn in exchange for forward Cameron Johnson, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Charania also reported that Denver has reached a one-year agreement with free agent guard Bruce Brown, who was an important contributor during their title run before departing in 2023 free agency.
Porter Jr.'s departure is a stunning development for a team just two years removed from winning the NBA championship. Selected 15th overall in the 2018 Draft, Porter averaged a career-high 18.2 points last season while shooting 50.4% from the field and 39.5% from three-point range.
However, the Nuggets ultimately decided Porter was expendable as he approaches the fourth year of a five-year, $179 million contract. He is set to earn $38.3 million in 2025–26 and $40.8 million in 2026–27.
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In contrast, Johnson has two years left on a four-year, $94.5 million deal, with salaries of $21 million and $23 million over the next two seasons.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Johnson brings size and reliable shooting—he has made 39.2% of his career three-pointers—while also reducing Denver's payroll.
The move lowers the Nuggets' salary below the first cap apron and creates a $14.1 million mid-level exception.
Since their championship breakthrough, Denver has struggled to keep quality role players around three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
The free agency losses of Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope depleted their depth, and the team was eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals each of the past two seasons.
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Now, the Nuggets have reunited with Brown, who they had sorely missed since he left in 2023—a move dictated by the salary cap. Last season, Brown averaged 8.2 points and shot 35.6% from three-point range with the New Orleans Pelicans.
By bringing Brown back, Denver adds much-needed bench depth and a defensive presence that was lacking in their recent playoff exits.
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