In 2020, Michael Porter Jr. appeared to be the next generational superstar set to take the league by storm. In 61 games played, Porter averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, shooting an efficient 54 percent from the field, 45 percent from three, and 79 percent from the free-throw line.
As a result, many assumed these numbers would only continue to trend upwards with Porter expected to take on a larger role with the Denver Nuggets in 2021. That is until reality hit and he was held to just nine games after having to undergo the third back surgery of his young career.
There’s no denying that Michael Porter Jr. is one of the best pure talents the league has to offer. The issue is that he’s been dealing with back injuries since his freshman year of college and has yet to play a full NBA season. In fact, he was limited to just three games in his short collegiate career at Missouri as well due to (you guessed it) lower back surgery.
When he’s on the court, he’s one of the most exciting and efficient players in the NBA. As a 6’10” do-it-all forward that can shoot with the best of ’em or take opposing defenders one-on-one off the dribble, there are few prospects as enticing as MPJ.
But with availability being so important in the modern NBA, this begs the question if the Denver Nuggets would be better off trading him now while they could still get a decent return.
Obviously, it’s not going to be easy dealing a player who’s currently recovering from back surgery and owed $172.5 million over the next five years ($145 million guaranteed, per Spotrac). However, there are a few potential suitors that might just bite on a player like Michael Porter Jr., especially given that the talents obviously there and he’s still just 23-years-old.
So, here are three teams that could make an offer for Michael Porter Jr. this offseason.
TRADE DETAILS
- Nuggets receive Bradley Beal
- Wizards receive Michael Porter Jr., 2026 First-Round Pick (DEN) & 2028 First-Round Pick (DEN)
Bradley Beal has been linked to several franchises for some time now. From teaming up with Embiid and Harden in ‘The City of Brotherly Love’ to becoming the next Laker to play alongside LeBron and AD in ‘La La Land’. However, could the Denver Nuggets emerge as a potential destination for the Washington guard?
Unlike other players on this list, Beal’s situation is a bit more complicated. He could either sign the $36.4 million player option remaining on his contract and return to DC next season. Or try his luck in free agency this summer, and pick where he wants to play long-term (in which case we’d have to scrap this idea entirely).
That being said, most people expect that he will sign the player option, and even he’s hinted at wanting to remain a Wizard. So, odds are he’s going to be on the roster for at least next season.
Though that doesn’t necessarily mean that things can’t change in an instant…
The Washington Wizards have been a team struggling with mediocrity since the whole John Wall debacle back in 2017. Even though Bradley Beal is a bonafide superstar, and one of the best scorers in basketball. He’s also almost 30-years-old and will be due for his biggest payday yet after next season.
So, the Wizards might see the opportunity here to offload their star shooting guard for a younger player with more potential as well as some additional draft capital. The result would be Washington actually making a move that could set themselves up for future success.
While the Denver Nuggets would finally have all the pieces necessary to capture their first NBA title in franchise history. Outside of his elite shooting ability, Beal is also a stingy defender and (unlike Porter) has played a full 82-game season on multiple occasions throughout his NBA career.
TRADE DETAILS
- Nuggets receive Damian Lillard & Justise Winslow
- Trailblazers receive Michael Porter Jr., Monte Morris, 2026 First-Round Pick (DEN) & 2028 First-Round Pick (DEN)
Now, in all honesty, this one does seem to be the most unlikely scenario given how bold a move it would be for the Blazers to trade their franchise player to a division rival. Although, considering that Lillard’s name always seems to get thrown around in trade rumours and Portland’s future outlook in a stacked Northwest division. Dame to Denver seems more real than ever before.
Even though Damian Lillard has said all the right things by stating that “he wants to win a championship in Portland”. I think it’s become pretty clear that the Trailblazers aren’t going to contend for a title anytime soon. He’s also turning 32-years-old in July and is owed over $136 million guaranteed through till 2025, via Spotrac. So, the Blazers might just pull the trigger if the right offer comes their way.
While Lillard has been linked to various other teams around the league, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics. The Denver Nuggets could probably string together a far more intriguing offer than any one of these teams.
Using the aforementioned trade scenario, Portland would receive a player with just as much potential as anyone in the NBA in Michael Porter Jr. As well as a serviceable veteran point guard and a couple of future first-round draft picks that could be used to fuel their rebuild. While Denver would get arguably the greatest point guard in basketball, and a solid rotational piece in Justise Winslow.
Similar to Beal, Lillard is one of the best true shooters in the game as well, albeit far better at creating his own shot. Although, the real value with adding a player like Lillard is that he’s much more of a pure point guard compared to Jamal Murray, who’s never averaged over five assists per game in his career. Meaning that Denver would instantly have three legitimate playmakers capable of creating shots for themselves or others at any moment in the game.
Simply put, a big three of Damian Lillard, Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic would give opposing teams nightmares for days. And the Denver Nuggets might just have the pieces necessary to pull it off.
TRADE DETAILS
- Denver receives Donovan Mitchell
- Utah receives Michael Porter Jr., 2026 First-Round Pick (DEN) & 2028 First-Round Pick (DEN)
Much like how Portland probably wouldn’t want to trade their franchise player to a division rival, the same argument could be made with the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell. However, at least in this trade scenario, there are already rumours of the player wanting out and a history of the two teams doing business with one another. So, it’s not an entirely implausible scenario either.
Obviously, almost every single franchise in the NBA would love to have Mitchell in their backcourt. But the truth is that very few teams can offer a player as enticing as Michael Porter Jr. Teams like the Knicks, Spurs, Hawks, and Lakers have all been linked to the Jazz guard, but what can they offer Utah that Denver cannot?
The Nuggets have a potential superstar in the making in Porter Jr., as well as solid draft capital for the next few NBA seasons. If Denver really wants to make it interesting they could even throw in Monte Morris for good measure. Who’s going to be battling for minutes with Bones Hyland next season anyway, nevermind if you add Donovan Mitchell into the mix.
It might seem counterintuitive to pair up two score-first guards in a single NBA backcourt in Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray. But when you consider the fact that the Denver Nuggets already have the best passer in the league, Nikola Jokic. It might just be crazy enough to work.
It would immediately be the most deadly offensive trio in the NBA, and it wouldn’t even be close. So, if the rumours are true about Mitchell, then I expect the Denver Nuggets to pursue him at all costs.