If you’re only looking at the box scores or scrolling through highlight clips, it might be easy to wonder if the Denver Nuggets made a mistake trading Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn this past offseason. After all, Porter’s putting up some eye-popping numbers with the Nets. But if you zoom out and look at the full picture, it becomes clear: the Nuggets didn’t just make the right move - they made a necessary one.
Let’s start with the obvious. Porter Jr. was a key piece in Denver’s championship run not too long ago.
His offensive skill set - smooth shooting, size, and scoring versatility - played a real role in helping the Nuggets lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. But this trade wasn’t about talent.
It was about flexibility. Denver needed to clear cap space, and moving Porter’s contract opened up $17 million this season alone.
That’s not just pocket change - that’s the kind of financial breathing room that allows a contender to make real moves.
And here’s the thing: the Nuggets haven’t missed a beat. Despite an injury list that reads more like a rotation chart - Nikola Jokić out for a couple of weeks, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon each missing time, Cam Johnson sidelined with a bone bruise, and Jonas Valančiūnas dealing with a calf strain - Denver is still right near the top of the Western Conference. Sitting at 28-13, they share the same record as the second-place Spurs and are firmly entrenched in the playoff picture.
That’s not a team reeling from a bad trade. That’s a team that’s deeper, more balanced, and still very much in the title hunt.
Now, yes - it’s fair to glance at what Porter’s doing in Brooklyn and raise an eyebrow. He’s averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a steal per game.
Those are serious numbers. But context matters.
He’s the No. 1 option on a Nets team that’s won just 11 games. That’s a very different environment than what he had in Denver.
There’s no Jokić in Brooklyn. No playoff pressure.
No championship expectations. Just a young team trying to find its footing.
Porter deserves credit for stepping up in that role. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity and boosted his trade value in the process.
But let’s not confuse individual production with team success. The Nuggets are built to win now, and keeping Porter’s contract would’ve limited their ability to build out the kind of roster that can survive the grind of an 82-game season - and thrive in the playoffs.
There’s also the matter of Cam Johnson, who came over in the deal. He took some time to adjust, and just as he was finding his rhythm, he got hit with an injury.
That’s made Porter’s absence feel a bit more glaring than it probably is. But the Nuggets didn’t make this move for January.
They made it with May and June in mind.
And let’s be clear: this wasn’t a messy breakup. Porter didn’t burn any bridges on his way out.
He left on good terms and still has plenty of fans in Denver. But this was a business decision - one that’s already paying dividends.
So, no, the Nuggets shouldn’t regret trading Michael Porter Jr. They’re winning, they’re deeper, and they’ve positioned themselves for another serious playoff run. That’s the kind of outcome any front office would sign up for.