According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Denver Nuggets were considering selling Michael Porter Jr. to the Los Angeles Clippers for Paul George.
The Nuggets expressed interest in obtaining George from the Clippers. However, George declined his 2024-25 player option and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Michael Porter Jr.’s big payday in Denver might not have been as big under this new CBA,” Fischer told reporters. “While Porter helped the Nuggets win the 2023 championship, Denver was already considering including Porter in a trade to land Paul George this summer, sources said, though his cap number would have been too daunting for the CBA-conscious Clippers to seriously consider if George had agreed to be traded.
The Nuggets lost seven games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, while the Clippers dropped six games to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
Porter Jr. played in 81 games for the Nuggets in 2023-24. He averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 48.4% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc, and 83.6% from the free throw line.
Porter Jr. will earn $35.9 million next season. The swingman’s career averages are 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks for the Clippers in 2023-24, shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc, and 90.7% from the free throw line.
