Denver’s offseason pivot reshapes its path to dethrone Oklahoma City. Porter Jr. was shipped to Brooklyn for Cameron Johnson, freeing cap space to re-sign Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. Johnson adds shooting punch and length, while Brown and Hardaway Jr. supply secondary scoring and two-way versatility off the bench. The move tightens Denver’s championship window and sharpens its depth ahead of a tougher West race. A hypothetical Kings-Market trade for Keon Ellis underscores Denver’s pursuit of backcourt defense, though Sacramento has shown little interest in parting with Ellis this offseason. All signs point to a Nuggets squad that aims to elevate its bench, keep Jokic and Murray at the center, and push a July thunder toward real contendership.

The discussion centers on how these moves affect Denver’s ceiling and fantasy landscape. Ellis would bring versatile defense to the second unit, pairing with Brown as two multi-positional wings who can guard multiple positions. The 25-year-old Ellis has career-season improvements and shooting efficiency, especially from three, which would help with spacing around Jokic. If the Ellis trade doesn’t materialize, Denver still has a revamped backcourt and a deeper bench, with Johnson’s shooting and Hardaway Jr.’s scoring ensuring that Murray can play off-ball more often. Either way, the Nuggets push toward the throne with a versatile, high-IQ lineup designed to maximize Jokic’s playmaking and sustain pace down the stretch.