‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. To Spurs

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Spurs and Nuggets: 

Denver Nuggets Receive: F Keldon Johnson, PG Tre Jones, F/C Zach Collins

San Antonio Spurs Receive: F Michael Porter Jr., F/C Zeke Nnaji, 2024 first-round pick (No. 28 overall)

Porter Jr. averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Nuggets this season while shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. He will make $35.9 million next season. 

“San Antonio gets the best overall player in the deal and has a clean enough cap sheet to absorb Porter’s contract and still retain cap space,” Swartz wrote. “His outside shooting would make a big difference for a Spurs team that ranked just 28th in three-point accuracy (34.7 percent) this season.”

The Spurs need more talent around Victor Wembanyama and Porter Jr. is one of the most talented scorers and shooters in the NBA. MPJ scored at least 30 points four times this season. He also recorded at least 20 points 29 times. 

Porter Jr. made 220 3-pointers this season, good for 12th in the NBA. The Spurs would become more explosive and versatile offensively if they had Porter Jr. next to Wembanyama and Devin Vassell.

The Nuggets are down 2-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. Some NBA insiders believe Denver could shake up its roster if the team loses to Minnesota. 

Porter Jr. has career averages of 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists with the Nuggets. He was the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Missouri.

Porter Jr. has become a reliable player after missing his entire rookie season with a back injury. He played in 81 games this season. The Indiana native turns 26 in June.