Winners, losers of Michael Porter Jr. Trade a Brooklyn Nets

The opening day of the NBA free agency seemed a little more silent than usual, in part because the great business took place in advance – Kevin Durant was exchanged with Houston, Desmond Bane in Orlando – or did not happen at all (Hi, Giannis).

However, there was a noteworthy trade, with the Denver Nuggets that separated from a fundamental part of their race to the title, Michael Porter Jr. we alominate the winners and losers from the only move of the day, starting from the details of the trade itself.

Brooklyn receives: Michael Porter Jr., 2032 unprotected pick
Denver receives: Cameron Johnson

Winner: Denver Nuggets

This was a lot of work on the front office of Denver – Text Book Smart Roster Construction.

Let’s start here: Cameron Johnson is better than Michael Porter Jr.

Even if you think their offensive production is similar (we can discuss it), Johnson is a much better defender and is an intelligent player. Both are good 3 -point shooters (MPJ 39.5% of last season, Johnson 39%), Johnson arrives more at the line and is a better director for others, Porter is the best rebound. The real key is that Johnson is a much better defender, who is a huge impulse for Denver, and interpreting him to the three next to Aaron Gordon is a significant advantage.

What makes this commerce such a victory for Denver: both Porter Jr. and Johnson have remained two years on their contracts, but Johnson earns $ 34 million less in those two years.

Even if you call exchange Johnson with Porter to Wash – or something close to that – so saving $ 17 million per season to spread to others and bringing deep (like Bruce Brown’s return) is a great victory for the Nugget. Denver now has access to the average exception again. It also maintains the pepper outside the second apron of the luxury tax, freeing other possible moves to add depth.

Denver has just spared a lot of money and probably improved, which is the definition of victory. They gave up what could be a very precious choice in seven years, but when you have Nikola Jokic, try to win now and worry about the rest later.

Winner: Cameron Johnson

Johnson is a player that many other front office have wanted, believing that if they had brought him to a system with a better spacing playing a high -level shots creator, he would prospery.

Welcome to play Denver with Nikola Jokic.

Johnson is a defensive update for Nuggets and a 3 -point high -level shooter playing an intelligent game. He is a boy not enough fan (especially random fan), but he is about to change. Johnson scored on average 18.2 points a 39% game of 3 from 3 of last season, and is about to get a cleaner aspect and better opportunities to drive and play how much he never had before. A winner will come here.

Loser: Michael Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. is not a great loser here, but he is going from a contender of the title to Denver to a reconstruction team in Brooklyn, and this will be a big change. It is an adjustment.

That’s where Porter Jr. can show me wrong and turn it into a great victory: he is an incredibly talented offensive player who is about to go to a buffet of shots at will. If it is consistent, if it is concentrated, if it remains healthy, it could be one of the first five markers of the League this year – and with this, improve its reputation throughout the League.

The networks say they are maintaining it. MPJ will have its chance, we will see what it does.

Winner: Brooklyn Nets

This is how you use the hood space to reconstruct: brings a player to that hood space to obtain a very precious resource. In 2032, Jokic will be 37 years old and there is a reasonable possibility that he lived in Serbia as a full -time full -time coach. Whatever happens, it is a good bet that the nugget will not be the same team, a constant team of top four in the West and that the choice could be very precious.

It is also possible that Porter Jr. can turn upside down – perhaps the version of him who has improved his reputation throughout the League – for more resources later. Once again, that’s how you reconstruct, get as many bit as possible.

Possible winner: Christian Braun

Denver has much more space under tax aprons and a lot more money to spend. Christian Braun is entering the last year of his current contract, which is worth $ 4.9 million and has a substantial increase.

It is not difficult to connect the points here. We will see where things await, but Braun could collect this trade.