Trade Proposal Sends Michael Porter Jr. To Raptors, Bruce Brown Back To Nuggets

One NBA analyst proposed that the Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets make a trade with each other this offseason. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Raptors and Nuggets:

The trade: The Denver Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, pick No. 31 and 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected, via IND)

The Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of this year’s playoffs in seven games. 

Meanwhile, the Raptors missed the postseason. 

“Denver also shouldn’t just dismiss the playoff failure as nothing, though,” Buckley wrote. “The Nuggets’ lack of depth was exposed in that series. Porter, who managed only 25 total points over the final four outings, was unsettlingly quiet for a $30 million-plus player who largely makes his money on the offensive end.

“Denver has to at least consider moving a player or two around, or this roster will become too pricey to keep. If Porter becomes the odd man out, this could the kind of package the Nuggets pursue: two plug-and-play rotation players for next year’s playoff run in Brown (a member of Denver’s title team) and Olynyk, plus an early second-round pick and future first-rounder to either grow the young core or sweeten a trade offer down the line.”

Porter Jr. appeared in 81 games for the Nuggets this season. 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 Raptors acquired Brown from the Indiana Pacers in the blockbuster Pascal Siakam trade. Brown appeared in 34 games with Toronto. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks. 

Brown helped the Nuggets win the 2023 NBA championship over the Miami Heat. The guard has a club option worth $23 million for next season. 

According to NBA insider Doug Smith of The Toronto Star, the Raptors plan to trade Brown this offseason.