Nikola Jokic Delivers Jaw-Dropping 40-Point Triple-Double—Here’s How the Nuggets Star Just Reshaped the MVP Race

The Denver Nuggets shook up their roster hours before free agency opened, reportedly sending forward Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for two-way wing Cam Johnson, a move designed to maximize the championship window around reigning Western Conference Finals MVP Nikola Jokić. According to multiple outlets, Denver’s front office believes Johnson’s perimeter defense and 41-percent career three-point stroke will better complement Jokić’s playmaking than Porter’s high-usage scoring role. The Serbian superstar’s gravity has long created wide-open looks for spot-up shooters; Johnson averaged 6.8 catch-and-shoot attempts per game last season and figures to slot immediately into the starting lineup at small forward. JOKIĆ’S REACTION League sources say Jokić was notified of the trade before it became public and offered a “thumbs-up” endorsement, citing Johnson’s versatility and willingness to cut without the ball—an under-appreciated trait that meshes with the center’s high-post orchestration. The three-time MVP, who turns 30 in February, has privately emphasized adding switchable defenders to ease his workload on the back line, per team insiders. CAP IMPLICATIONS AND NEXT MOVES Porter’s departure clears roughly $12 million in 2025-26 salary, giving Denver maneuverability to chase another veteran in free agency. Yahoo Sports reports the Nuggets are “expected to inquire” about Suns guard Grayson Allen, an elite floor-spacer who could slot alongside Jamal Murray in closing lineups. Denver is also rumored to be courting former Finals MVP Kyle Lowry on a two-year mid-level deal to stabilize the second unit. WHY THE DEAL MATTERS Denver’s coaching staff viewed last season’s West finals loss to the Thunder as a referendum on defensive flexibility; Porter was repeatedly targeted in pick-and-rolls, forcing Jokić to hedge higher and exposing the paint. Johnson, at 6-8 with a 6-11 wingspan, rates in the 82nd percentile as a primary wing defender, per Second Spectrum tracking data. Offensively, his quick-release triples are expected to punish double-teams sent at Jokić on the block. FREE-AGENCY CLOCK TICKING NBA teams can officially negotiate with free agents beginning Monday at 4 p.m. MT, and Denver plans to be aggressive. General manager Calvin Booth reiterated that “every decision we make starts with Nikola,” underscoring the franchise’s commitment to build a roster capable of recapturing the title it won in 2023. WHAT’S NEXT FOR JOKIĆ Jokić is eligible for a three-year, $183 million extension on July 12. While sources around the league expect him to take a “wait-and-see” approach before signing, Denver’s willingness to reshape the roster around him could accelerate talks later this summer. For now, the focus shifts to integrating Johnson, upgrading the bench, and delivering the supporting cast Jokić needs for another run at back-to-back championships. BOTTOM LINE By swapping a high-scoring but defensively limited forward for a two-way shooter, the Nuggets signaled they are all-in on optimizing Nikola Jokić’s prime. If the move unlocks a more balanced attack and sturdier perimeter defense, Denver’s path back to the NBA Finals suddenly looks a lot clearer.