Denver Nuggets Will Trade Michael Porter Jr to the Atlanta Hawks?

The Denver Nuggets are in a mode with Nikola Jokic that they must do whatever it takes to build the best contending team each year, and a question that Nuggets fans have had is: Michael Porter Jr a long-term fit with Denver?

Michael Porter Jr. Benched in Key Moments!

Porter Jr is a legit flamethrower from the three-point line as well as an elite mid-range shooter, but in multiple years of playoff runs, he’s had stints where he was benched and unplayable due to his lack of offensive creativity at times.

Porter Jr averages 16.7 PPG, but in the Minnesota series he averaged 10 PPG as well as 13 PPG in the 2023 playoff run. He had an amazing series in the 2024 playoffs against the Lakers, but the overall consistency from a $35 million player whose skillset is truly able to be supplemented by a multitude of current NBA players.

These aren’t my opinions, but rather a fact that head coach Mike Malone in key stretches often has to take MPJ out of the lineup in favor for a more defensively sound player, or to switch to a matchup-based lineup.

How do Bogdanovic & Peyton Watson fill the role?

Nuggets GM Calvin Booth loves to have young developmental wings like Watson and Julian Strawther who have so far been productive, and there’s a world where in a year they can step into the rotation as Watson has already been accustomed to.

In this trade, the Hawks give up Bogdon Bogdanovic who has chemistry by playing with Nikola Jokic on the Serbian National Team in the Olympics and beyond, and he adds some serious juice as a playmaker as well as a 38% 3P shooter on seven attempts a game. The Denver fans who wouldn’t consider a MPJ trade, for the simple reason that he’s an amazing floor spacer and one of the best shooters in the NBA will have no rebuttal when Hawks fans tell them the IDENTICAL statement about Bogdon.

The negative that comes from Bogdanovic would be that he tends to shoot the ball too much that he’s been known as a “ball stopper” but in an offense with Jokic & Murray, whenever he gets the ball he’ll likely be in an amazing position for a good shot.

The selling point for me is the Nuggets lacked a true secondary offensive creator that Reggie Jackson off the bench didn’t do it for me. If you have a guy alongside Jamal that isn’t just a spot-up shooter/slasher like KCP & MPJ, it’ll add a dynamic that the Nuggets have longed for.

Larry Nance Jr (or Deandre Hunter) could be added just to fulfill cap-space, but the Nuggets could definitely use him as a high-energy power forward off the bench.

Tough Cap Situation

Michael Porter Jr is making $35 million a year until 2027 as non-star player. Jamal Murray is another guy who could be discussed in trades, but with Denver having won a championship with him, they might fork over the $50 million per year to satisfy his needs.

On top of paying Jokic 36% of the team’s cap, Aaron Gordan will become a free agent in two years (one if he decides to opt out of his player option) and he’ll command more than his current $22 million a year.

In this trade Bogdon is making $16 million a year which is almost $20 million less than MPJ, and Bogdanovic could provide similar things, in addition to adding more shot creation off the dribble than MPJ does.

This trade truly accomplishes something for both teams and is also super realistic. Would love to hear your thoughts on WHY you disagree if you do!