Porter Trading Rating: Nuggets cut wages while strengthening C Nets look forward to making another B next year

(The original article was published on July 1, and the author is Kevin Pelton from ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's views)

After this year's NBA draft came to an end, the official opening of the free agent market was immediately followed. While the teams were busy signing, the league-wide transactions were also being carried out simultaneously. Before the free agent market opened, deals for big-name players such as Durant, Jaylen Green and Bain were reached. With the official opening of the free agent market window, the trading momentum has not diminished at all. Just a few minutes after today's free agent market opened, the Nets agreed to trade Cameron Johnson to the Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and the unprotected first-round pick in 2032. Kevin Pelton of ESPN website gave an analysis and rating on the operations of the two parties in this transaction:

Details

Nuggets obtained: Cameron Johnson

Nets obtained: Michael Porter Jr., 2032 unprotected first-round pick

Nuggets rating: C

From the data, Cameron Johnson and Michael Porter Jr. are the two most similar players in the league. Both are forward swingers who entered the league in the 2019-20 season, with three-point shooting percentages this season, and averaging nearly 19 points per game. Porter Jr. has stronger rebounding ability, while Cameron Johnson is slightly better at organizing offense.

The key difference is that Porter Jr. signed a rookie's maximum salary renewal before suffering a back injury, and his salary for the remaining two seasons was as high as $79 million. This injury caused him to almost miss the entire 2021-22 season and delayed his personal career development. Although Porter Jr. won the Nuggets as an important member in 2023, he has never reached the average score and shooting level at the age of 22 (2020-21 season).

In contrast, Cameron Johnson improved his independent scoring ability after signing a four-year contract with the Nets, with a base salary of only $43 million for the remaining two years. This is crucial for the Nuggets, who are close to the luxury tax line when the free agent market opens, and the team will face greater salary pressure when Braun's rookie contract expires in the last year of $4.9 million in the 2026-27 season faces a sharp increase in salary. However, the Nuggets have given up their only tradeable first-round pick and cannot justify saving luxury taxes in the next two seasons. The deal must increase the chances of the Nuggets winning the championship again during the peak period of three-time MVP Jokic.

was previously limited by only $5.7 million in mini middle class specials available, and the Nuggets have now unlocked some of the full middle class specials. As long as it does not exceed the first tycoon line, the Nuggets can use an exception of about $10 million, which is enough to add another rotation player after signing back to the 2023 championship substitute Bruce Brown.

The only uncertainty in this deal is Porter Jr.'s health. If the Nuggets are worried about his physical condition in the next two seasons, it would be logical to trade Porter. As early as the 14th pick in draft night, Porter Jr.'s back injury caused concern. But ironically, Cameron Johnson, whose health is seen as more reliable, has played only 66 games in his NBA career, while Porter Jr. missed only six games in the past two regular seasons in total.

Nets Rating: B

Considering that the Nets helped the Nuggets cut their huge salary, it is not too generous to exchange for a first-round pick. Cameron Johnson's trading market may not meet the Nets' expectations. They could have exchanged this contract for a smaller contract and then traded separately to earn the salary of other teams.

However, the Nuggets' unprotected first-round pick in 2032 has considerable appreciation potential. By then, Jokic will be 37 years old. If he does not return to Serbia to concentrate on racing, his career will surely enter a new stage. In addition, the Nuggets have traded multiple first-round picks, and the difficulty of returning to the championship will increase significantly.

The Nets may also achieve "one fish, two eats" through Porter Jr.: his contract will enter his final year next season, and he is expected to play beautiful data in the rebuilt Nets. Porter Jr.'s shooting ability will also provide ideal development space for the young guards of the Nets.

According to BobbyMarks, a salary expert on ESPN website, the Nets still have about $17 million in salary space after completing the deal. If the contract extension of center Deron Sharp or forward Zaire Williams, reported earlier, uses a space-based middle-class special case, this number may continue to increase.

Original text: KevinPelton

Compiled by: Li Taibai