Michael Porter Jr.: ‘Might have to break it up’ if Nuggets don’t win 2025 NBA title | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Michael Porter Jr. believes the Denver Nuggets are in for major roster turnover if the team doesn’t reach the 2025 NBA title.

“If we don’t win it this year, we all know they might have to break it up,” Porter told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

The Nuggets are looking to capitalize on a tenth season led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokić, who is averaging 31.5 points over four games.

Jokić and the Nuggets will play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night in a rematch of the second round that Denver lost in seven games in May.

Denver has yet to win in the regular season this season and needed overtime to claim back-to-back victories over the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets earlier this week.

The Nuggets are still adjusting to the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a key part of the team’s 2023 championship roster, who signed a three-year contract with the Orlando Magic in free agency.

Denver also gave up draft capital to move former sixth man Reggie Jackson and his $5.25 million player option, a trade that in addition to moving Christian Braun to the surprise lineup reduced the team’s bench depth.

In addition to the previous exits of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, the Nuggets are now missing several role players who contributed to the 2023 championship run.

The Nuggets’ biggest moves this offseason were adding veteran guard Russell Westbrook and giving extensions to both Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray.

According to Spotrac, Denver is currently about $5 million under the second tax platform, which includes a hard cap. That has limited the team’s ability to build around Murray and Jokić as they look for a new title contender.

Jokić, who turns 30 in February, is currently contracted for the 2026-2027 season with a player option for 2027-2028.

The Nuggets may have Jokić locked up alongside Murray, Porter and Gordon for the next two seasons, but it appears Porter expects that core to be broken up if Denver makes an early exit from the playoffs for the second straight season.