We have movement! The Denver Nuggets have traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson — a wing swap that makes the Nuggets a little smaller but upgrades the small forward spot at both ends, an important upgrade for an important position flanking Nikola Jokic.
Then, almost at the exact same time, the Nuggets brought back a fan favorite from their championship run, Bruce Brown, on a one-year deal. They're getting the gang back together! Well, kind of. MPJ is out, but Bruce is back in.
On Tuesday, the Nuggets continued their impressive free agency period by acquiring Jonas Valančiūnas from the Kings for Dario Saric. Another move that doesn't look important at first glance, but shores up the Nuggets backup center position with a capable big.
Here's where things stand for Denver post-Valančiūnas trade.
Projected Nuggets lineup after swapping Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson
Starter | Bench | Position |
|---|---|---|
Jamal Murray | Julian Strawther | Point guard |
Christian Braun | Jalen Pickett | Shooting guard |
Cam Johnson | Bruce Brown | Small forward |
Aaron Gordon | Peyton Watson | Power forward |
Nikola Jokic | Jonas Valančiūnas | Center |
Depth was not necessarily the friend of Denver last season — that's why adding Brown and Jonas Valančiūnas is so big.
Brown is already a fan favorite in Denver, and we know he plays extremely well with Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. He hasn't looked like he did in that championship run since he left the Nuggets, but he also hasn't been in great situations. A return to Denver should also be a return to form for Brown.
Jonas Valančiūnas, meanwhile, isn't a flashy pickup, and he's struggled in a few of his recent stops, but the Nuggets other backup big option was DaRon Holmes II, who has never played a minute in the NBA. When you look at it that way, this is a smart insurance move.
Who's next for Nuggets?
The offseason might be just about finished for Denver, and it was pretty impressive, all things considered.
Johnson, Brown and Valančiūnas will all be important parts of this Nuggets lineup. Adding three rotation players in 24 hours is pretty dang good, and although questions remain — the backup backcourt could get shaky with Strawther and Pickett — this team has objectively improved this offseason.
The Nuggets new front office has done some great work to reverse the pretty awful work that former GM Calvin Booth did over the past two years. Ben Tenzer, the new EVP of Basketball Ops, and Jon Wallace, who oversees personnel, deserve some big props. Nuggets are looking like a contender in 2025-26 and beyond.