The Denver Nuggets‘ new common supervisor duo did not waste any time in reshaping their group.
On the outset of free company, the Nuggets surrendered an unprotected first-round decide in 2032 to swap disappointing ahead Michael Porter, Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for sharpshooter Cam Johnson. The Nuggets owed Porter $38.3M subsequent season and a partially-guaranteed $40.8M for 2026-27, an enormous cause they needed to connect a decide to make the deal.
Johnson is signed for the subsequent two seasons at $43M, whole, which supplies the Nuggets way more flexibility so as to add expertise round three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. They used it to convey again Bruce Brown, a key a part of their 2023 title group.
Brown left for a profitable free-agent deal after profitable the title, when the wage cap guidelines prevented the Nuggets from providing Brown something near a contract commensurate with what he acquired from the Indiana Pacers. Denver did not need to lose Brown and he did not actually need to go, having embraced Rocky Mountain life. Brown routinely wears cowboy hats and snakeskin boots to video games, and spent last summer visiting a ranch in Colorado.
It is a good looking reunion, and nearly must be thought-about as a part of the Porter-Johnson swap. Johnson is 2 inches shorter than Porter and never fairly the identical three-point shooter — 39.2 % for his profession to Porter’s 40.6. He is additionally two years older.
However Johnson additionally does not have the damage issues of Porter, who missed one full season and all however 9 video games of one other with accidents. He struggled tremendously on this yr’s playoffs, averaging 9.1 factors and capturing beneath 40 % whereas enjoying by way of a shoulder damage.
In a single night, the Nuggets tremendously improved their depth, ball dealing with and adaptability. Johnson can play each ahead spots. Brown can passably play anyplace from capturing guard to energy ahead, with nice instincts from slicing to the ring that makes him an ideal complement to Jokic.
Some individuals speculated (together with this author) that having two common managers would possibly damage the Nuggets’ decision-making talents. Two hours into free company, the Nuggets had been fairly decisive certainly.
