NBA Insiders Doubt Michael Porter Jr. Trade Would Ever Be Approved by Nuggets Owners

There is reportedly a belief within the NBA that Stan Kroenke and his family, who own the Denver Nuggets, are attached to forward Michael Porter Jr.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer on the Marc Stein Substack, sources have said they don't believe Nuggets ownership has any willingness to trade MPJ:

"The Kroenkes have a fondness for Porter that stems from deep ties to their shared alma mater: Missouri. Sources with knowledge of Denver's thinking have maintained for some time that they struggled to envision ownership ever approving a deal that would send Porter away from the franchise."

Some big changes to the roster could be in store for the Nuggets during the offseason depending on how they fare in the playoffs, especially on the heels of their week's shocking announcement that the organization had fired head coach Michael Malone and won't extend the contract of general manager Calvin Booth.

Originally the No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Porter has spent his entire NBA career in Denver.

When Porter arrived at Mizzou in 2017, 247Sports had him ranked as the No. 2 overall recruit in the nation, and the expectation was that he would be in the mix to go first overall in the 2018 NBA draft.

However, a back injury cost him all but three games during his only collegiate season, as well as his entire rookie season in the NBA.

The injury caused Porter to fall much further in the draft than he otherwise would have, and while taking him was a risk, it has paid off in a big way for the Nuggets over the years.

Porter has started 290 of the 344 games he has played in for the Nuggets over six seasons, averaging 16.2 points on 49.9 percent shooting, along with 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 three-pointers made and 1.4 assists.

Durability has also been a hallmark of Porter's game in recent years, as he played in 81 games last season and 76 games so far this season.

The 2024-25 campaign has been one of the 26-year-old's best from an individual production standpoint, as he is averaging 18.1 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting, plus 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers made and 2.2 assists.

Porter played a sizable role in the Nuggets winning the NBA championship two years ago as a main member of the supporting cast alongside stars Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray.

Denver fell short of expectations with a second-round playoff exit last season, though, and the team has been inconsistent this season as well, leading to the departures of Malone and Booth.

Still, the Nuggets enter the final day of the regular season in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 49-32 record.

While the Nuggets have a strong starting five with Jokić, Murray, Porter, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, depth has been an issue the past two seasons following the departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown.

Trading a member of the starting five would perhaps be the best way to add depth, and Porter would likely bring Denver the best return outside of the superstar duo of Jokić and Murray.

Porter is also signed for a shorter amount of time than Jokić, Murray and Gordon since he is under contract for two more seasons beyond this one.

There is plenty of logic behind the idea of at least seeing what the Nuggets can get in exchange for Porter, but if Fischer's report is accurate, that may not be on the table.