The Nuggets’ new braintrust of Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer immediately came in and proved themselves on the first night of free agency, trading for Cam Johnson and signing Bruce Brown. The team has been hamstrung by Michael Porter Jr.’s contract for the last few seasons, and he was thought to hold no value on the trade market.
But they were able to turn his deal and a 2032 first-round pick into Johnson from the Nets. While upgrading the player, the Nuggets also saved almost $17 million, completely pulling themselves out of salary cap jail.
They’ve had virtually no hope of realistic paths to upgrading the roster, but with one trade, they changed everything. The team was then able to sign old friend, and perfect role player, Bruce Brown to a veteran minimum, and suddenly the Nuggets have a much stronger rotation, with multiple paths to improving.
The Denver Nuggets get significant flexibility by swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cameron Johnson.
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 30, 2025
-$40 million saved
-They get under the luxury tax
-They open up the $14.1 million mid-level
-$16.8 million trade exception
And more possibilities by getting under the first apron. pic.twitter.com/JYIeFDqQCH
Nuggets now have full MLE to sign more free agents
The Johnson/MPJ swap got the Nuggets all the way under the luxury tax, which affords them use of most of the $14.1 million midlevel exception. They can offer that to any free agent left on the market, suddenly one of the most appealing combinations of money and chance to win.
Win now veterans like Al Horford, Guerschon Yabusele, Malcolm Brogdon, and others are now very realistically in play, and one could even argue that Denver is the favorite to sign any remaining free agent they want; a statement that would have been truly unbelievable just 24 hours ago.
Nuggets created $16+ million trade exception
Beyond the new free agency spending power, the Nuggets also created a $16+ million traded player exception in the Johnson/MPJ deal. The Nets were able to take MPJ’s extra money into their cap space, while the Nuggets are now able to use the difference in salary as a TPE.
That means Denver can now make another trade where they take in $16 million (and change) more than they send out. This opens up a whole plethora of players around the league whom the Nuggets can now add without matching salary.
There are plenty of good veterans around the league making under $17 million whose teams may be looking to get rid of. The Nuggets can now offer salary relief to teams while taking on a player who can help right away.
All in all, this was an incredible day for the Nuggets, and one that nobody saw coming. Wallace and Tenzer defied the odds and proved themselves completely in a matter of hours. If they can use their remaining resources to add a solid backup point guard and center, the Nuggets will be right up there with the Thunder as favorites to win it all next season.