Only time will tell whether the Denver Nuggets ultimately won the Cameron Johnson trade last summer, but right now, it is looking like absolute robbery — and Michael Porter Jr.’s latest devastating injury has made the Nuggets’ front office appear downright prophetic.
Porter Jr. is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a hamstring injury, adding to the 13 games he has already sat out. While no one can say for certain whether he would have avoided this injury had he stayed in Denver, Nuggets fans remember all too well how his recurring injury issues constantly threatened to derail the team’s championship hopes year after year.
Nuggets’ offense hasn’t missed a beat — it’s actually gotten better
Denver will always be grateful for Porter Jr.’s contributions to the 2023 title run. He was the team’s third-leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, provided crucial rebounding, and delivered a strong 16-point, 13-rebound performance in the championship-clinching Game 5 victory over the Miami Heat.
Many feared the Nuggets’ offense would take a major step back without Porter’s elite shooting and spacing. Those concerns have been completely erased. Instead of declining, Denver has elevated its attack to new heights this season, leading the entire NBA in both points per game and offensive rating.
The team’s main struggle has been its average defense, an area where Porter Jr. was never going to provide significant help anyway.
Johnson is thriving at the perfect time
On the other side of the trade, Cameron Johnson has been a revelation for Denver after a slow start. He endured a frustrating stretch earlier in the season and missed 23 straight games with a bone bruise in his right knee, but he has returned healthy and is peaking at exactly the right moment as the Nuggets navigate a wave of injuries.
Johnson’s shot-making, size, and versatility have fit seamlessly into Denver’s system, giving the team valuable production without the constant injury cloud that followed Porter Jr.
Meanwhile, Porter Jr. has been putting up All-Star caliber numbers for a rebuilding Brooklyn Nets team before his latest setback. His strong play has likely increased his trade value if the Nets decide to fully commit to a youth movement this summer.
Still championship-or-bust for Denver
Both sides appear to have benefited from the deal, but the Nuggets have gained the most immediate upside. With Nikola Jokić not getting any younger, every season is a title-or-bust campaign in Denver. The front office’s decision to move Porter Jr. for Johnson now looks like a masterstroke, especially with Porter’s latest brutal injury news hitting at this critical juncture.
Of course, challenges remain. The Nuggets face a potential roster crunch this summer with Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency looming, and decisions will need to be made about the luxury tax and keeping the core intact. They cleverly ducked the tax this season with timely moves, but future payroll flexibility could force tough choices, possibly involving Johnson.
Even so, Nuggets fans have every reason to feel optimistic. The front office has once again shown sharp vision, and the Cameron Johnson acquisition — highlighted by Michael Porter Jr.’s latest injury — is making them look like absolute geniuses right now.