A week has passed since the Denver Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson. It took a first-round pick to get off MPJ's contract, but at least it resulted in Johnson. On the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons and Ryen Russillo proved why the trade was a major win for the Nuggets.
Simmons called it one of the worst trades of the decade because Brooklyn didn't receive anything in return for Johnson. The first-round pick wasn't for Johnson but to convince the Nets to absorb the rest of Porter's contract. Simmons and Russillo speculated that the deal might've gone through if Brooklyn hadn't included Johnson.
Did Denver fleece Brooklyn, even though it gave up a first-round pick? It seems that way. The Nets reportedly wanted two first-round picks for Johnson before the 2025 trade deadline, and the Nuggets were able to get by with sending them one, along with a player they needed to move for financial relief. Johnson will make $17 million less than MPJ in 2025-26.
Nuggets' Cam Johnson trade was an absolute win for Denver
Like Porter, Johnson is signed through the 2026-27 season. He'll make $21 million in 2025-26 and $23 million in 2026-27. Porter will make $38.3 million next season and $40 million in 2026-27. It doesn't take a salary cap expert to understand the benefits of the trade for Denver, at least financially.
On the court, Johnson is one of the best movement shooters in the league. He shot 39% from three for the Nets this past season on a career-high 7.2 attempts per game. Johnson averaged a career-best 18.8 points per game, too. That was on a bad Brooklyn team, but still, he can score. Imagine what it will be like when he plays alongside Nikola Jokic, who will find Johnson open for looks on the perimeter like it's no big deal. The first no-look pass to Johnson for a wide-open three at Ball Arena will be a sight to see.
The Nuggets never should've committed to paying MPJ that much money, but at least they got a championship out of it in 2023. Now, fans hope that Johnson will help Denver do the same, as soon as 2026. The trade was already a win for the Nuggets, but if they win a title with Johnson, it will go down as a legendary move by the front office regime.