Report: Nuggets Considered Trading Michael Porter Jr. To Clippers For Paul George

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets considered trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul George. 

The Nuggets were interested in acquiring George from the Clippers. However, George wound up declining his 2024-25 player option and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Michael Porter Jr.’s big payday in Denver might not have been as big under this new CBA,” Fischer reported. “While Porter helped the Nuggets clinch the 2023 championship, Denver already was flirting with the concept of including Porter in a trade to land Paul George this summer, sources said, although his cap number likely would have been too daunting for the CBA-conscious Clippers to have truly considered if George had opted in to be traded.”

The Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games, while the Clippers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round in six games. 

Porter Jr. appeared in 81 games for the Nuggets in 2023-24. He averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. 

Porter Jr. will make $35.9 million next season. The swingman has career averages of 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists. 

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Clippers in 2023-24 while shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 90.7% from the free-throw line.

George has career averages of 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers. He was born and raised in Palmdale, California. 

The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in free agency. They are expected to sign Russell Westbrook once the NBA legend clears waivers. 

After losing George, the Clippers bounced back by signing Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kevin Porter Jr., Mo Bamba and Kris Dunn. LAC also re-signed James Harden.