Only time will tell whether the Denver Nuggets won the Cameron Johnson trade last summer. It has been paying dividends, though, especially now that Michael Porter Jr. will likely miss the rest of the season because of a hamstring injury after missing the past 13 contests.
We can't say for sure if Porter Jr. would have still dealt with the same health problem had the team kept him instead of using him to acquire Johnson. However, no Nuggets fan can forget how the former starting forward's nagging battle with injury threatened to derail their title quest every year.
Nuggets' offense hasn't missed a beat
Denver is certainly grateful for Porter Jr. and his contributions to the franchise's title chase in 2023. He was the third-leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs and made an impact in the rebounding department, particularly in the postseason. He also helped finish the championship run with a 16-point, 13-rebound performance in the Nuggets' title-clinching 94-89 Game 5 win over the Miami Heat in the Finals.
There might have been worries that the Nuggets' offense could take a significant hit without Porter Jr.'s shot-making skills. However, it didn't take long for them to shatter those concerns. They are even better on offense this season, pacing the league in both average points and offensive rating.
The stumbling block for Denver this year has been its middling defense. But not even Porter Jr. could have helped in that area.
Of course, we should give the former lottery pick credit for taking the leap in his career, even if it came on a rebuilding Brooklyn Nets squad. He had been putting up All-Star numbers before he went down with the hamstring injury, and he may have driven up his value if the Nets decide to go even younger and bring in more assets this summer.
Nuggets are still not out of the woods
Still, it's safe to say that both the Nuggets and Nets have been better off after the 2025 offseason swap. Johnson had been frustrating to watch at times earlier in the season, though he seems to be peaking for Denver at the right time. And he may have needed to sit out 23 straight games due to a bone bruise in his right knee, but what matters is that he is available now amid the rash of injuries the club has had to deal with.
On the other hand, let's not forget, every season is a championship-or-bust campaign, as Jokic is not getting any younger. So, hopefully, Johnson is up to the task in the playoffs.
It's also worth mentioning the looming potential roster crunch this summer, courtesy of Peyton Watson's restricted free agency. It remains to be seen if the Nuggets will ship Johnson elsewhere to bring down the payroll or just go all-in and pay the luxury tax next season to keep the core intact after ducking it this year with a shrewd trade-deadline move.
Whatever the case may be, the Nuggets faithful should be optimistic that the front office will do the right thing after its brilliant Porter Jr. trade last offseason.