The Denver Nuggets have their immediate revamp on their roster after falling short to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the quarterfinals of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
As the franchise aims to get another championship, some adjustments that they observe need to be made, such as firing their head coach in the middle of the postseason.
The Michael Porter Jr. trade escalated on Nikola Jokic’s allegation, requesting to transfer him due to his being unfit with their system, especially in a tight starting role. However, Porter believes that it was not the three-time MVP’s desire for the changes to their roster.
“Me and Jok’ had a dope relationship, man. I don’t think [the trade] came from him,” Porter said in an interview with Justin Laboy via HoopsHype.
“Basically, what happened was after we lost, the head coach was gone, they fired him two to three games before the playoffs. They fired the GM, so a new GM comes in, and I think he just wanted to switch stuff up. “Then the deal came up with Cam [Johnson] but Joker’s so laid back, I really don’t feel like the owner and the GM really had many conversations.”
Despite being a three-time MVP and significantly contributing to their first title recently, Porter sees Jokic as not the type of guy who controls even inside the management of the franchise.
“Joker’s so humble, he works really hard, but he’s not the type of guy to step on people’s toes and be super controlling, even though he probably could, and has that power, he doesn’t really do that. So, I think it was more the new GM coming in with the owner, they kind of sat down, and they just wanted to go in another direction.”
The 6-foot-10 forward has also contributed to the Nuggets’ 2023 championship while also leading the team into the quarterfinals last season. He averaged 18.2 points, seven boards, and 2.1 assists before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
With these recent changes, many expectations for the Denver Nuggets as fans also see Porter as the missing fit for the team’s rotation, aside from the coaching staff.
