There’s a reason Michael Porter Jr. has been at the center of all the trade buzz involving the Nuggets, and it has nothing to do with the front office’s opinion of him.
The internal regard for Porter is high, in fact, all the way up to ownership. The situation remains as simple as this: If the Nuggets want to be open to even the slightest possibility of improving their roster at the trade deadline, they essentially have to be willing to brainstorm Porter deals by default. Nikola Jokic is permanently off-limits. Neither Jamal Murray nor Aaron Gordon can be traded until summer.
That leaves Porter’s $35.9 million salary as the team’s only cap figure north of $10 million that can be dealt. Remember, the Nuggets are restricted from taking back more salary than they send out in a trade.
There’s still a month before the Feb. 6 deadline, but in the meantime, Porter looks hellbent on playing himself out of trade talks. The most prominent rumor, linking him to Chicago’s Zach LaVine, was first reported by The Athletic while the Nuggets were on a three-game road trip before Christmas. In 10 games since that road trip, Porter is averaging 21.6 points on 13.9 shots per night. Only one player in the NBA is doing more with less since then (Jonathan Kuminga, with 22.7 points also on 13.9 field goal attempts).
Porter also leads the league in 3-point percentage (50.7%) among all players who have attempted 45 or more 3s since Dec. 23. He has taken 71 during that span. Nobody else is within 4% of his efficiency.
On one hand, the argument for trading Porter before Feb. 6 is that his value on paper is at an all-time high. His size, efficiency, age (26) and availability have flipped the narrative surrounding his contract. Entering Friday’s matchup with Brooklyn, he has played in 149 of Denver’s last 150 games dating back to the start of the 2023 playoffs, proving himself capable of increased minutes along the way. His price tag through 2027 is looking more palatable, especially if the salary cap increases by the full 10% allowable once the NBA’s new TV deal goes into effect next season.
On the other hand, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to imagine a Porter trade making the 2024-25 Nuggets better. He has arguably been their second-most valuable player, picking up slack where Murray’s been inconsistent and Gordon’s been injured. He’s playing like a power forward more than ever, getting downhill, absorbing contact in the paint and finishing at the rim. (In just the last week, he has dunked on Victor Wembanyama and Kristaps Porzingis.) He’s finding room for a career-high 2.6 assists. And while expanding his game, he’s staying self-aware of what the team needs most from him: “Getting up some 3s,” as he put it bluntly last week.
“Sometimes when I’m coming off of (dribble handoffs), I have the option to drive. I have the option to shoot the midrange. But I also have the option to just jump up and shoot the three,” Porter said. “So I think trying to not over-complicate things and just rise up on some of those has been a point of emphasis for me from the coaches.”
Hoisting the fewest 3s per game in the NBA hasn’t thwarted the Nuggets’ offense so far, largely because they’re making the most of their attempts — they rank third in efficiency (38.2%). Much of the credit belongs to Porter, who leads the league in 3-point percentage against tight contests (43.4% when the closest defender is within 4 feet). Even if Denver trades him for another elite volume shooter who’s better at creating off the dribble, such as LaVine, the sacrifice in size would be noteworthy. Porter makes shots that others don’t dare take.
As the Nuggets’ season has developed, their needs have slowly crystallized. An All-Star Robin to Jokic’s Batman? Maybe, but Murray’s encouraging December was a reminder that he can be that, despite having never secured the recognition. Perimeter defense and rotational depth for a playoff run? Denver has struggled to check those boxes internally. Jokic, Murray and Porter are each averaging career-high minutes, while the team has floated between 17th and 20th in defensive rating for most of the year after finishing eighth in 2023-24.
So maybe the best rationale for trading Porter is not a LaVine-esque acquisition. Maybe it’s the less flashy approach: dividing MPJ’s contract into two smaller salaries in an attempt to extend the bench with adequate floor-spacers and at least one lockdown defender.
Is Porter’s value high enough to net that kind of return? In a new financial era for the NBA, it’s tricky. The collective bargaining agreement has practically caused a recession between the shortage of eligible trade partners and the premium on team-friendly contracts.
Expiring deals are also becoming more coveted than contracts with term. A rental can provide short-term value toward a playoff run and offseason flexibility against the cap. Front offices are wary of getting bogged down by volatile long-term commitments. No matter how far removed Porter is from his back surgeries, there might always be some trepidation about him.
If a potential 1-for-2 trade requires the Nuggets to include their 2031 first-round pick swap in addition to Porter, they’ll have to think hard. They would effectively be out of draft capital. And it’s always precarious to give up the best player in a trade while trying to contend. (Think Minnesota and Karl-Anthony Towns.)
Which brings the conversation back around to LaVine. Obstacles loom over that type of trade as well, even if the Nuggets decide it’s worthwhile. They would want (and need) to attach Zeke Nnaji to make the deal work. Chicago might demand the 2031 pick in exchange. Denver isn’t in any position to enter a bidding war with other suitors.
Porter has shared with reporters that Denver’s front office communicated to him that it has no desire to trade him. But there is a difference between shopping Porter and doing due diligence. The Nuggets will continue to view it as their responsibility to consider the moves available to them, however limited. That doesn’t mean they have to be in love with every option.
For now, Porter is making it difficult to love the notion of moving on from him.
The NBA’s best volume 3-point shooters
Michael Porter Jr. is in elite company once again as a top-10 marksman on 200 or more attempts this season. Six former All-Stars are in the top 10 with him, including potential Nuggets trade target Zach LaVine. But nobody on the list is within an inch of Porter’s height. All stats are as of Jan. 9.
| Player, team | 3-point % | 3-point att. | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zach LaVine, CHI | 44.4% | 234 | 6-5 |
| Kyrie Irving, DAL | 44.1% | 211 | 6-2 |
| Norman Powell, LAC | 43.7% | 245 | 6-4 |
| Cameron Johnson, BKN | 43.6% | 241 | 6-8 |
| Anthony Edwards, MIN | 42.9% | 359 | 6-4 |
| Darius Garland, CLE | 42.9% | 238 | 6-1 |
| Steph Curry, GSW | 42.3% | 305 | 6-2 |
| Michael Porter Jr., DEN | 42.3% | 227 | 6-10 |
| Payton Pritchard, BOS | 42.0% | 307 | 6-1 |
| Donovan Mitchell, CLE | 41.0% | 322 | 6-3 |
