As the NBA offseason progresses, the reality of a ‘fresh start’ is dawning on a litany of players who have been dealt to a different team. Michael Porter Jr., a role player/star in his role, is on that boat. He shed some light on the transaction that took him from Denver and landed him on the Brooklyn Nets roster in exchange for Cam Johnson.
Advertisement
The cutthroat nature of the business is a dark reality for NBA players. These moves are usually the work of GMs and the front office, so players aren’t aware that they’re being considered in a deal to join another squad till the last moment.
It has also become increasingly common for them to find out that a trade has happened through social media or TV. MPJ fell into that category as well. The 27-year-old dropped a new video on his YouTube channel, where he addressed the trade, which also involved a rather interesting encounter with Jon Wallace, an executive in the Nuggets’ FO.
“I think two days prior I was walking around my home in Denver, I was actually staying at the Four Seasons residences and I was down there at the bar,” revealed Porter Jr. “I ran into Jon Wallace, I didn’t even know he was the newly appointed GM because I’m off social media.”
Porter Jr. claimed that Wallace told him he was preparing to beef up Denver’s secondary unit so they could get him more opportunities to put points on the board. “From that conversation, I’m thinking, ‘We’re going to make some changes, we’re gonna move some things around. I’m gonna feel more comfortable next year’. I was excited for it,” he added.
Unfortunately, MPJ’s reality was far from that narrative. He detailed how shocked he was to find out about the trade. Still, like a professional, he understood that it wasn’t personal.
“When I heard the news, when I got the text from Jon Wallace and my agent, I was shocked. At the end of the day, that’s the NBA. That’s the business. I have no hard feelings. I’m excited for the Nuggets organization,” Porter Jr. said.
While no Nuggets executive has yet to comment on Porter Jr.’s exit, the change of scenery is good for both parties involved. MPJ did play a role in the squad winning the 2023 NBA Finals. But since they had two ugly exits in the following two seasons.
Also, the last-second firing of coach Michael Malone before the start of the playoffs is not exactly a great sign. It’s pretty obvious that the front office isn’t afraid to pull the plug on anyone.
Porter Jr. says he’s optimistic about the Nets
MPJ looked at this as a glass-half-full situation. He admitted that he was excited for his new chapter in Brooklyn, and thinks it will give him a great opportunity to improve his overall game.
“I’m really excited for this next chapter out here in Brooklyn. Over there in Denver, my ceiling had kind of plateaued,” said Porter Jr., before giving a shout out to Cam Johnson.
“Me and Cam are actually boys. We’re pretty cool. We are even having talks of swapping homes,” he added, mentioning how he’ll live in Cam’s spot in Brooklyn while Johnson will take his home in Denver for the upcoming season.
In the end, it’s a smart move for Denver. While Porter Jr. brought shooting, Cam offers comparable range with far better defense.
Besides, if Denver loses, MPJ can know in his heart that he wasn’t the reason the Nugs have been unable to repeat since their 2023 title win, regardless of how poorly he shot in the 2025 playoffs.
It’s a fresh start. A blank page. And what more exciting place for Porter Jr. to start over than in New York?
