Michael Porter Jr.-Cam Johnson trade grades: Nuggets add savvy sharpshooter, Nets continue rebuild

As NBA free agency officially opened, the Nuggets made headlines by pulling off a massive trade with the Nets.

Denver is set to acquire sharpshooter Cam Johnson from Brooklyn in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. and draft capital, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal is one of the first major swings from a new front-office braintrust that recently assumed control in the Mile High City.

Johnson, 29, addresses one of the Nuggets' biggest weaknesses, while the Nets can look toward the future with a draft pick that could prove valuable down the line.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Here's how both teams made out in the deal.

MORE: Tracking the latest signings, trades and more from 2025 NBA free agency

Michael Porter Jr.-Cam Johnson trade details

Nets receive

• Michael Porter Jr.
• Nuggets' 2032 first-round pick (unprotected)

Nuggets receive

• Cam Johnson

Nets trade grade

It may not seem like much on the surface, but this is another step in the right direction for Brooklyn.

Johnson was one of the more desirable players on the trade market, and Brooklyn gains a talented player in Porter and a valuable asset in return. However, in all fairness to Porter, the deal is more about the draft capital.

In Porter, Brooklyn gets a former lottery pick under contract for two more seasons, and while he has had his fair share of injury woes, Porter averaged 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds over 77 games last season, shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from distance.

The Nets are rebuilding, and Porter could eventually be a part of another trade that brings even more value to the franchise.

With value in mind, the unprotected 2032 first-round pick from Denver could prove to be extremely valuable. The pick won't convey for years, but it belongs to Brooklyn after Jokic's 37th birthday.

It's unclear just how much longer Jokic plans to play in the league, but there is a possibility that the pick conveys after he retires or when he is no longer performing at the elite level he is currently at.

Grade: B

MORE: NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams in 2025

Nuggets trade grade

This is masterful work from Denver's front office.

The best way to complement Jokic is by surrounding him with cerebral talents, and Johnson fits that bill to a T. While there may not have been many eyes on him last season in Brooklyn, Johnson averaged a career-best 18.8 points per game while shooting 39.0 percent from 3-point range.

Playing next to Jokic, Johnson will seemingly get countless catch-and-shoot opportunities and will also benefit greatly from being a high-IQ player.

Despite their flaws, the Nuggets pushed the eventual champions to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals, thanks in large part to Jokic's greatness. For the series, Denver shot just 31.4 percent from 3-point range, and during the regular season, it ranked 28th in made 3-pointers.

Johnson addresses a massive need for the franchise, which also parts ways with Porter in the process. While he played a large role in the 2023 title run, Porter's fit became more complicated over the past two seasons and the split should be beneficial for both parties.

As a small aside, Denver's acquisition of Johnson also prevents any rival teams from making a move to get him.

Grade: A-