Free agents are activated by the entire team, and the Nuggets boss is really courageous in the end of the transaction?

The Nuggets have shown a strong intention to compete for the championship in the recent trading and free agent market operations, and have significantly improved their competitiveness through lineup optimization and salary restructuring.

First, the Nuggets sent Porter Jr. + the 2032 unprotected first-round pick, and got the 3D forward player Cameron Johnson from the Nets. This move directly saves $40 million in salary and frees up $14.1 million in special cases for middle-class cases. Johnson's defensive efficiency and three-point stability (38.5% of three-point shooting percentage last season) is better than Porter Jr., and his contract is smaller (only 21 million vs Porter Jr. 38 million in 2025-26), laying the foundation for subsequent strengthening. ‌

The second trade with the king to obtain Valanciunas and send Salic off. Valan averaged 8.7 points and 7 rebounds per game last season, providing solid rebound protection and low-post defense, perfectly adapting to Jokic's substitute role, solving the problem of the Nuggets' long-term lack of depth in the inside. ‌

Then he signed back to the 2023 champion Brown with a one-year veteran's basic salary. His multi-functional defense (can cover 1-3 positions) and playoff experience, greatly improving the hardness of the bench.

and signed Hardaway Jr. in a one-year contract to provide outside firepower (36% career three-point shooting percentage) and enhance rotation depth.

The strategic significance of the operation of cap space

‌1. Release huge space‌: By trading Porter Jr., the Nuggets not only avoided its super premium contract totaling $79 million in the next two years, but also created a trading exception of $16.8 million, reserving flexibility for mid-season signings. ‌

2. Middle class special case use: $14.1 million in the middle class special case can be used to sign high-quality role players later, such as pursuing wing defenders or substitute point guards. ‌

The depth of the new lineup has been significantly improved, and the starting + rotation (Johnson, Brown, Valan, Hardaway Jr.) has a more balanced offense and defense, and has targeted solutions to problems such as weak substitutes last season (6th from the bottom in the league) and insufficient rebound protection. ‌

It seems that Nuggets boss Joan of Arc has courage. His originally lifeless team lineup was instantly revitalized by the Nuggets boss. His level is much higher than that of the former general manager, which also proves why he is the Nuggets boss, and his former is just the general manager.

The transaction is over, and the Nuggets will have a chance to compete for the championship again next season. It is finally not wasting Jokic's peak.