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The Denver Nuggets wasted no time at all after the official NBA free agency period began on Monday evening - proving to everyone in the league they're serious about making another championship run. Who are now being considered Denver's "pseudo-general managers" after not hiring one for the specific role in the offseason, Ben Tenzer (Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations) and Jon Wallace (Executive Vice President of Player Personnel) have already started making their mark.
The two were met with swift criticism from Nuggets fans following their introductory press conference, with equally-criticized owner Josh Kroenke, who dropped the bombshell of potentially trading their star - Nikola Jokic - if the team were to succumb to a bunch of injuries. However, the Nuggets have made it clear to the fans now that that will never happen.
On the flip side - the regime in the upper echelons of the once discombobulated front office is flexing their muscles this offseason and pulling one of the league's biggest "never let them know your next move" type of mindsets. Trades, signings, and even eye-turning coaching hires, the Nuggets have undoubtedly had the best 24 hours of any team in the NBA to start free agency.
After not having a single draft pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nuggets made sure to kick off the free agency period with a bang by trading one of their biggest names in Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cam Johnson. With a similar three-point shooting skill set, shooting over 39% from three-point range, Johnson gives the Nuggets a better playmaker, shot creator, defender, and just an all-around more consistent style of play.
While they may lose MPJ's rebounding ability, which proved to be vital at times for the Nuggets this past season, the move undoubtedly improves their starting five. Johnson is coming off a career-high 18.8 points per game last season on a career-best 47.5% shooting. Not to mention, unloading MPJ's contract with a $38.3 million cap hit this upcoming season is a huge weight off the team's shoulders, while Johnson himself holds a $21 million cap hit.
But it wasn't just their first trade that made an impact - it was also their second one in acquiring veteran centre Jonas Valanciunas in exchange for Dario Saric. Valanciunas is exactly what the Nuggets fans have been on their knees praying for over the past five years. Nobody needed a solid backup centre more than Jokic. Now, he finally has one. Despite the 33-year-old Lithuanian entering his 14th year in the league this upcoming season, Valanciunas has averaged nearly a double-double almost every year throughout his entire career.
But what also made the trade perfect for the Nuggets is that they were able to dump that disaster of a contract Dario Saric was given (two years, $10.5 million) by former General Manager Calvin Booth. Now, Valanciunas will be coming off the bench with a trio of hungry youngsters in the stout defenceman Peyton Watson, the scorer Julian Strawther, and the big-man project DaRon Holmes. But what's even better is that the Nuggets also signed two veterans - one new face and another in an old friend and fan favourite.
