GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — A new era is here for the Denver Nuggets.

Now with not one but two new general managers — Jon Wallace and Ben Tenzer — running the show, the Nuggets aim to be aggressive with their championship window still open.

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Aggressive is an understatement for how the Nuggets have operated through the first two days of free agency.

Immediately upon FA’s start, Denver got to work.

First, the Nuggets traded one of their most popular players, Michael Porter Jr. or “MPJ” and a 1st round pick in 2032 in exchange for a cheaper, equally productive Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets. Both players averaged just over 18 points per game last season. The key here is the money; the Nuggets had been shopping Porter Jr. because of his hefty $38.3M salary in 2025-26. Johnson, who scored more than half a point more than Porter last season carries just a $21.1M cap number in 2025-26. To make this move happen Denver was forced to give up their first-round selection in 2032. That’s seven years away. Sounds like good business to me.

Not long after that, the Nuggets brought back a familiar face. A key part of Denver’s 2023 title run, Bruce Brown signed a 1-year deal to return to Mile High. Brown averaged just 8 points per game with the Bucks last season but scored over 12 points per game in the playoffs in Denver two years ago.

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Then, it was time to go to bed Monday night. But as the sun rose on Tuesday, the work continued for Wallace, Tenzer and the Nuggets brass.

Just like with MPJ, Denver was hoping to dump the salary of 31-year-old power forward Dario Saric. Just like with MPJ, they did so successfully while also adding a talented chess piece. Denver traded Saric to Sacramento for 33-year-old center Jonas Valancuinus, who averaged 10.4 points per game (6.9 more than Saric’s 3.5) and 7.7 rebounds per game (4.6 more than Saric’s 3.1).

That’s not all, Tuesday afternoon, the Nuggets added another veteran player signing 33-year-old sharp-shooter Tim Hardaway Jr. to a 1-year deal. Hardaway Jr. shot 36.8% from three last season and scored 11 points per game.

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