NBA Trade Idea Sends $179M Denver Nuggets Star to Detroit Pistons

The Denver Nuggets have had an intriguing NBA offseason. Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, Denver did not replace his skillset. A 41.5 percent three-point shooter in his two seasons with Denver, Caldwell-Pope helped the Nuggets win their first NBA championship in 2023.

While the Nuggets lost Caldwell-Pope, they did upgrade their point guard depth by signing nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook after trading away Reggie Jackson. Westbrook projects to fill a lot of Denver's needs as an additional ball handler and point of attack defender.

While they still have arguably the NBA's best player in Nikola Jokic, many feel the Nuggets are still a move away from being the league's most feared team again.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on the bench — Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) (center) on the bench in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. | Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In a new hypothetical trade idea from Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz, Denver shakes up their starting lineup with a three-team deal including the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets. The hypothetical trade has a lot of moving pieces:

Denver Nuggets Receive: Cam Johnson and Ziaire Williams

Detroit Pistons Receive: Michael Porter Jr.

Brooklyn Nets Receive: Isaiah Stewart, Tim Hardaway Jr., 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto Raptors, and a 2027 second-round pick (via Detroit Pistons)

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) before the game against the Detroit Pistons at Ball Arena. | Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Sending Porter Jr. and his large contract to Detroit, the Nuggets would create some financial flexibility by bringing back Johnson, who is entering the second year of his four-year, $94.5M contract.

For comparison, Porter is entering the third year of his five-year, $179.3M deal (via Spotrac). Both contracts expire after the 2026-27 season, but Porter's is much more expensive.

Update on Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.’s extension: The five-year deal is guaranteed for $145.3 million, sources tell me and @sam_amick.

It's guaranteed for $12M out of $39.3M in Year 5 — with full guarantee based on All-Stars, MVPs, DPOYs, All-NBA, All-Defensive honors.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 29, 2021

This was a big part of Bleacher Report's justification for this hypothetical deal, as Swartz wrote, "This kind of savings will help the Nuggets keep their core of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon together while not sacrificing Porter's skill set. Denver saves $6.1 million this season and another $6.1 million next summer when Williams' contract expires in addition to the salary drop from Porter to Johnson."

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