Nuggets finally break through self-imposed ceiling with critical trade

The new era of Nuggets basketball is officially here, as moments into free agency, they’ve made an all-in trade, sending Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Nets for Cam Johnson.

Johnson has been in trade rumors for years, wallowing away on a tanking Brooklyn team, but now he’ll fit perfectly into the Nuggets’ starting lineup. On paper, Johnson’s stats aren’t dissimilar to those that MPJ has been putting up, but with this changed role, Johnson should thrive and massively lift the ceiling for the Nuggets.

He’s a knockdown shooter, but can also create off the dribble, pressure the rim, and play in transition. He should be able to play some two-man game with Nikola Jokic, space the floor, and even run some offense at times.

He’s 29 years old, but he’s set to make just $21.1 million next season and $23.3 million for the 2026-27 season, saving the Nuggets almost $17 million while upgrading their weakest starter. Johnson is far from an elite defender, but he’s certainly not a weak link; one of the league’s best starting lineups just got even better.

Nuggets open up cap flexibility

Beyond upgrading from MPJ to Johnson, the Nuggets also opened up cap flexibility with their savings. The deal gets Denver $9.2 million below the tax, and opens up most of the midlevel exception, allowing the team to go out and add more depth via free agency.

They can possibly split that exception into two role players, while still being able to sign players to minimum deals. A tricky offseason just got a lot more manageable, and the Nuggets now have the ability to really build out the bench behind an elite starting lineup.

Nuggets risking it all by trading 2032 1st

The scary part of this deal for the Nuggets is sending out their last tradeable first, unprotected in 2032. That basically eliminates their assets and sets them up to be very bad down the road, but at least they are maximizing this window with Jokic.

The team needed upgrades, and the time is now. This is a great deal that should set them up to compete for championships for the next several years. Maybe down the road, they will rue trading this pick, and the 2030s may be a rough decade for Nuggets basketball, but that all pales in comparison to the urgency to maximize Jokic’s prime.

The new front office has hit a home run with their first big move, and the Nuggets should be right back in the mix of favorites contending to win the title in 2026 and beyond.