Trade Proposal Sends Cameron Johnson To Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. To Pistons, Isaiah Stewart To Nets

One NBA analyst proposed a three-team trade idea between the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets. 

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Nuggets, Pistons and Nets:

Denver Nuggets Receive: F Cameron Johnson, F Ziaire Williams

Detroit Pistons Receive: F Michael Porter Jr.

Brooklyn Nets Receive: F/C Isaiah Stewart, SG Tim Hardaway Jr., 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto Raptors, 2027 second-round pick (via Detroit Pistons)

Johnson averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks for the Nets last season while shooting 44.6% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 78.9% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $23.6 million next season.

Porter Jr. averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Nuggets while shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from the free-throw line. The NBA champion will make $35.9 million next season.

Finally, Stewart averaged 10.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.8 blocks for the Pistons while shooting 48.7% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc and 75.3% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $15 million next season. 

“Swapping Porter for Johnson saves the Nuggets a lot of future money, though, as the latter will make $68.8 million over the next three years while the former stands to earn $115 million,” Swartz wrote. “This kind of savings will help the Nuggets keep their core of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon together while not sacrificing Porter’s skill set. Denver saves $6.1 million this season and another $6.1 million next summer when Williams’ contract expires in addition to the salary drop from Porter to Johnson.

“The Pistons should be thrilled to add Porter, a lifetime 41.0 percent three-point shooter, to a roster that ranked tied for last in made threes (11.0) and 26th in accuracy (34.8 percent). Plugging him into the starting lineup at small forward gives players like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey more driving space to operate in.”

The Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in seven games, while the Nets and Pistons missed the postseason.