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Brooklyn Nets have surprising plans for Michael Porter Jr. after Cam Johnson trade to Denver Nuggets

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aaditya Krishnamurthy | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 8:15 AM ET

It appears the Brooklyn Nets have an idea of what they want to do with Michael Porter Jr. after landing him as part of the Cam Johnson trade.

As the first day of NBA free agency came and went, there were a lot of major moves. But one team stood out with the moves they made, and that team was the Denver Nuggets.

Firstly, they brought back Bruce Brown, who was a key part of their 2023 NBA championship team, back on a minimum deal.

Then, they surprisingly traded Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets to land Cam Johnson, giving up a coveted 2032 first-round pick in the process.

As the Nuggets look forward to competing again, Porter Jr. will have to learn how to be a key veteran on a bad team.

But it appears the Nets agreed to this deal because they see a lot of value in him and plan to use him as such.

Brooklyn Nets excited about Michael Porter Jr.

When news of the trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets broke, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne provided a small but interesting tidbit about the Nets’ stance.

Rather than trading Porter Jr., the Nets want to keep him. It appears the front office are big fans of the former NBA champion.

“Nets are excited about MPJ, and the intention is to keep him.”

It makes sense why the Nets want to keep Porter Jr. right now. For starters, his value isn’t very high right now, and they aren’t going to get a great package for him.

Plus, with his $38 million salary, Porter Jr. allows the Nets to meet the floor of the salary requirements a lot easier.

And lastly, Porter Jr. is an excellent shooter. Given the Nets drafted three strong passing guards with subpar shooting, Porter Jr. can be a reliable outlet for them while also showing them the tools needed to improve.

Nets are excited about MPJ and the intention is to keep him. https://t.co/IF735casPA
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 30, 2025

Brooklyn Nets might use MPJ as trade asset in the future

If the Brooklyn Nets are hoping to complete their rebuild quicker than fans expect them to, Michael Porter Jr. will be very useful in making that happen.

As mentioned before, Porter Jr. earns $38 million this coming season and $40 million after that. Should the Nets be in a position to trade for a star, his salary will come in handy when trying to make the numbers work.

In the meantime, the Nets will have head coach Jordi Fernandez work on maximizing Porter Jr.’s value. Using him as a locker room presence and a leader might be the way to go.

The Nets have one of the youngest rosters in the NBA today, and they need some veteran leadership to set the culture for the franchise.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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