Nuggets Earn Excellent Offseason Grade As Team Tries To ‘Maximize’ Nikola Jokić’s Prime

The Denver Nuggets are urgently building around Nikola Jokić's prime after winning the 2023 championship but suffering consecutive playoff exits in the conference semifinals, despite Jokić's MVP-level performances. Determined not to waste another year of his peak, the front office has made strategic offseason moves to return to title contention.

Denver executed key transactions, including trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson, signing Bruce Brown, trading Dario Saric for Jonas Valančiūnas, and adding Tim Hardaway Jr. These moves are widely viewed as a masterclass in roster construction, earning an A grade from PFSN's Brandon Austin for addressing weaknesses while preserving the core to maximize Jokić's impact.

The headline trade swapped Porter Jr. for Johnson, providing comparable floor spacing but superior on-ball creativity, defense, and a lower salary, with Denver also sending an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn. Johnson's versatility, demonstrated by his 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game with Brooklyn in 2024-25, offers more offensive options when defenses target Jokić.

Additional signings filled critical gaps: Valančiūnas bolsters the backup center position, Brown—a key player from the 2023 championship team—adds versatility, defense across multiple positions, and valuable experience alongside Jokić, while Hardaway Jr. enhances perimeter shooting to further space the floor. Each acquisition is tailored to amplify Jokić's strengths and address past roster deficiencies.