According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets are trading Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson.

Porter Jr. was Denver’s first-round pick with the #14 overall selection in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft. He played in 345 regular-season games and 75 postseason contests in six years with the Nuggets, who are shedding Porter Jr.’s $38.3 million contract next season and $40.8 million in 2026-27.

The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game during Denver’s 2023 run to an NBA championship. Porter Jr. had 16 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in the Nuggets’ 94-89 series-clinching win over Miami in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

During the same regular season, Porter Jr. averaged 17.4 points and 5.5 RPG. He drained 3-pointers at a career-best 41.4 percent clip.

Porter Jr. is coming off a strong season in which he averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He buried 50.4 percent of his field-goal attempts and 39.5 percent of his treys.

The 29-year-old Johnson came to Brooklyn in 2022-23 in the trade that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix. He is off a career-best season with the Nets, averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 APG.

Johnson was in his fourth season with the Suns when he was traded away. Phoenix had selected Johnson with the #11 overall pick in the first round of the 2019 draft.

The University of North Carolina product helped the Suns make the 2021 NBA Finals before losing in six games to Milwaukee.  Johnson averaged 10.8 PPG in the West finals against the Clippers, hitting 70.0 percent of his FGAs and 52.9 percent of his shots from downtown.

Johnson is cheaper by a lot. He’s owed $21.1 million next year and $23.3 million in 2026-27. Both players can become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2027.

The trade comes one day after Porter Jr.’s 27th birthday.

Denver is also adding Bruce Brown on a one-year contract. He was a key part of the Nuggets’ 2023 championship team.

The 28-year-old Brown has spent the last three years with Indiana, Toronto and New Orleans. He started 31 of 80 regular-season games for Denver in 2022-23, averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Brown was outstanding in 20 playoff games during the title run, averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 SPG. He made 51.1 percent of his FGAs and 85.7 percent of his free throws.

Brown scored 21 points in Denver’s 108-95 win at Miami in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He drained 8-of-11 FGAs and 3-of-5 launches from 3-point range.

In other news, Atlanta remained busy today by striking a sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota for Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a four-year, $62 million contract. The Hawks are sending cash and a 2027 second-round pick (via Cleveland) to Minnesota.

Alexander-Walker will turn 27 in September. He averaged 9.4 PPG, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 APG in 82 regular-season games for the 2024-25 Timberwolves.

Atlanta also added free agent Luke Kennard on a one-year deal worth $11 million. The 29-year-old Kennard has made 903 career 3-pointers in eight NBA seasons. He’s buried 43.8 percent of his treys for his career.

From a betting perspective, I’ll be looking for Trae Young’s odds to lead the NBA in assists in 2025-26. With the acquisitions of Kristaps Porzingis (in a contract year), Kennard and Alexander-Walker, he’s never been surrounded by so many quality shooters.