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The Denver Nuggets have officially decided to trade Michael Porter Jr., a pivotal player from their 2023 championship squad, to the Brooklyn Nets, along with an unprotected first-round pick for 2032. In return, the Nuggets will acquire forward Cameron Johnson.
**Nuggets receive:** Cameron Johnson
**Nets receive:** Michael Porter Jr., unprotected 2032 first-round pick
**BREAKING:** According to sources reported by ESPN, the Denver Nuggets are sending Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected first-round pick in 2032 to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson. pic.twitter.com/o6rdWhu3Rl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
Additionally, reports indicate that Denver is nearing an agreement with free agent guard Bruce Brown, who contributed to the Nuggets during their championship campaign before departing in free agency in 2023.
Free agent Bruce Brown Jr. has made a one-year agreement to return to the Denver Nuggets, as confirmed by sources to ESPN. The former 2023 NBA champion makes his comeback to Denver. CAA’s Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann completed the transaction this evening with the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/YZV094pUs0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
The exit of Porter Jr. marks a surprising turn for a team that celebrated an NBA championship just two years ago. Selected as the 15th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Porter Jr. posted a career-best 18.2 points per game while shooting 50.4% overall and 39.5% from beyond the arc last season.
Since their championship success, the Nuggets have struggled to maintain their roster’s supporting cast around three-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokić. The losses of free agents Brown, Jeff Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have weakened Denver’s depth, leading to playoff exits in the Western Conference semifinals for the past two seasons.
Cameron Johnson, who experienced a breakout season of his own (18.8 ppg, 39% from three-point range), will step into Porter Jr.’s frontcourt role, all while reducing the team’s payroll by approximately $12 million. Johnson was acquired by the Nets during the 2023 trade deadline when they traded Kevin Durant to the Suns, and there were ongoing rumors throughout the season that he might be moved to a contender as Brooklyn undergoes a rebuilding phase.
The Nets had previously traded Mikal Bridges, a close friend of Johnson who was also part of the Durant deal, to the Knicks last summer in a move that yielded five first-round picks.
Porter Jr. fell to the Nuggets at the 14th pick in the 2018 draft due to a back injury that impacted his time at the University of Missouri. He missed his rookie season in Denver following a back procedure in July 2018.
With this trade, the Nuggets also enhance their chances of reuniting with Brown. As the sixth man on Denver’s 2023 championship roster, Brown averaged 8.2 points and shot 35.6% from three-point range during his time with New Orleans last season.
On the flip side, the Nets continue to bolster their draft pick portfolio while also positioning Porter Jr. for a more significant role within Brooklyn.
This report incorporates information from The Associated Press.
