Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. To Pelicans

One NBA analyst proposed that the New Orleans Pelicans acquire Michael Porter Jr. from the Denver Nuggets. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Pelicans and Nuggets:

New Orleans Pelicans receive: Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji and a 2031 first-round pick (top-five protected)

Denver Nuggets receive: Brandon Ingram

“Porter fills more of a specialist’s role, but having a 6’10” net-shredder and off-ball weapon could do wonders for the spacing around Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray,” Buckley wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “New Orleans would also add a future first to its pile of trade chips, plus it could give its underwhelming frontcourt a potentially helpful depth piece in Nnaji, a former first-round pick who has shown flashes of shot-making and defensive versatility.”

Porter Jr. averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.7 blocks for the Nuggets last season while shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. He played in 81 games. 

The one-time NBA champion will make $35.9 million next season. He signed a five-year, $172 million contract with the Nuggets in 2021. 

Porter Jr. has career averages of 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks. He’s only 26 years old. Denver drafted Porter Jr. with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. 

An Indianapolis native, Porter Jr. missed his entire rookie season with a back injury. He also played in only nine games in 2021-22. 

The Nuggets, who won the 2023 title against the Miami Heat in five games, lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2024 postseason in four games. New Orleans hasn’t won a playoff series since 2018.