The Nuggets and Nets reportedly agreed to exchange a pair of talented young forwards on Monday, with Denver acquiring Cameron Johnson while sending Brooklyn Michael Porter Jr.

According to ESPN, the Nuggets will also send Brooklyn an unprotected 2032 first-round pick as part of a deal which will give Denver increased financial flexibility by allowing it to escape a luxury tax penalty.

Both players have two years left on their contracts, though Porter is set to earn $38.3m next season and $40.8m in 2026-27. Johnson is due a $21.1m salary next season and $23.1m in 2026-27.

ESPN reported that the Nuggets will use those savings to sign veteran guard Bruce Brown to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old was a key member of Denver's 2022-23 NBA champion team before leaving as a free agent the following offseason. 

BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets are trading Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/o6rdWhu3Rl

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

Johnson joins the Nuggets off the best season of his six-year NBA career, as he averaged personal bests of 18.8 points and 3.4 assists over 57 games in 2024-25. The 29-year-old is also an outstanding three-point marksman who has shot 39 per cent or better from beyond the arc in each of the past four seasons.

Taken by Phoenix with the 11th overall pick of the 2019 draft, Johnson spent three-plus seasons with the Suns before coming to the Nets in the blockbuster February 2023 trade that sent superstar Kevin Durant from Brooklyn to Phoenix. 

Porter Jr. figures to be a primary scoring option for a rebuilding Nets squad that made a record five first-round selections in last week's draft. The 27-year-old is also an excellent three-point shooter who sports a career 40.6 per cent success rate from long range.

The 14th overall choice of the 2018 draft, Porter Jr. spent his entire six-year career with the Nuggets and was a core contributor to Denver's 2022-23 title run. He averaged 18.2 points on 50.4 per cent shooting in 77 games this past season and has averaged 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game over the last three campaigns.

Brown split last season between the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans and averaged 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 41 games, mostly in a reserve role.

Free agent Bruce Brown Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. The 2023 NBA champion for the Nuggets returns to Denver. CAA's Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann finalized the deal tonight with the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/YZV094pUs0

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

The seven-year veteran averaged a career-high 11.5 points along with 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with the Nuggets during the 2022-23 regular season, then contributed 12.0 points per game in 20 contests during that year's playoffs.