From the 2025-26 NBA GM survey, the Nets are mentioned in several categories: Brooklyn received votes for the MPJ trade for how surprising it was, Nets rookie Danny Wolf is considered a steal based on his draft spot, Juwan Howard received votes for best assistant coach. pic.twitter.com/Ub8Lfr1O6R

— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) October 9, 2025

The Brooklyn Nets made plenty of moves this offseason as general manager Sean Marks sought to continue rebuilding a roster that finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 26-56 record. While Brooklyn is keeping its mind on young players and draft picks, they traded for forward Michael Porter Jr., a move that received votes for one of the most surprising moves of the offseason.

In the 2025-26 NBA GM survey, 49 questions were asked, including what were some of the most surprising moves that happened this summer and the Nets ended up on the list. Granted, Brooklyn trading for Porter was in the category “also receiving votes” while most of the votes (43%) went to the Milwaukee Bucks waiving-and-stretching guard Damian Lillard as they pursue to entice superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee.

To get Porter, the Nets gave up forward Cam Johnson, who was coming off the best season of his career after averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 39.0% from three-point land. In exchange, Brooklyn received Porter, who was coming off a solid season of his own, along with Denver’s first-round pick in 2032, something that could prove to be extremely valuable in the near future.

One could argue that the move was surprising given that Porter is two years younger than Johnson, but comes to Brooklyn with injury issues that plagued his past, especially with his back. However, Porter, who averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the floor and 39.5% from deep, played in a career-high 77 games for the Nuggets.

Porter spoke during training camp about his journey to get his body to the point where he could be available for almost every game despite his troublesome back and the hope is that progress sticks around. Either way, Porter is wearing a Nets uniform and given his talk about wanting to show more of his game than he could show in Denver, this move could prove to be surprising for reasons other than the general public not having any idea of him being dealt.