Here's what the next phase of Michael Porter Jr.'s return looks like

Makes sure to pack a jacket, Mike.

The next phase of Michael Porter Jr.’s return to play will take place later this week in Grand Rapids where he’ll practice and scrimmage with the Nuggets’ G League affiliate, a source told DNVR. Grand Rapids hosts the Wisconsin Herd on Tuesday and the Lakeland Magic on Wednesday but don’t have another game scheduled until Sunday.

If everything goes according to plan, Porter would then return to Denver. His next step from there isn’t set in stone, but it could include playing in a G League game with Grand Rapids before returning to the Nuggets’ lineup on a full-time basis.

Here’s what Michael Malone said today about how close Porter and Jamal Murray are to being cleared for full contact.

“They go through parts of practice. Nothing live. Nothing contact. Not that we do a lot of live and contact now anyways. In today’s practice, I would say both guys went through maybe 15-20% of practice. Basic player development type stuff. It’s been a step-by-step process. [Nuggets VP of Sports Medicine] Steve Short and our team doctors are leading that charge.”

You couldn’t help but notice what was going on in the background during Malone’s comments. As he spoke, Porter and Davon Reed were engaged in a game of 1-on-1 on the far basket of Denver’s practice court. There was definitely “contact” between the two. Whether that counts as “full contact” or not can be left up to interpretation, but it didn’t look like Porter was playing under any restrictions.

Porter has missed the last three months after undergoing back surgery on Dec. 1, his third back surgery in four years. But it’s not hard to imagine him making an immediate impact once he returns to Denver’s lineup.

Porter and the Nuggets will both get a good idea of just how significant of an impact he can make after practicing with the Gold. The Nuggets rarely scrimmage at this point in the season, and one of the advantages of having a direct G League affiliate is that Denver can set the exact parameters for Porter’s time there. If the Nuggets want to see how Porter fares in a scrimmage consisting of four, 10 or 12-minute quarters with officials calling fouls, that’s what the Gold will set up. Grand Rapids also has the bodies available for a live scrimmage to take place. The Nuggets, due to injury and simply the wear and tear of the season, wouldn’t.

If everything goes according to plan, I could see Porter rejoining the Nuggets’ lineup in mid-March after Denver returns from a three-game road trip. The Nuggets then host the Celtics on March 20, the Clippers on March 22, the Suns on March 24, and the Thunder on March 26.

While Porter’s return seems like it could happen over the next several weeks, Jamal Murray’s feels further off. I still believe he’s on track to return this season though.

Then, the Nuggets can really start believing again.

“We had practice last week. And just having (Michael Porter Jr.) on the court and his shooting, it’s effortless. It’s pretty. He’s got just a beautiful stroke,” Malone said. “When you’ve got a 6-foot-10 guy who shoots it like that. And then you start to remind yourself, man, last year before we had an injury to Jamal we thought we had a chance to win it. Whenever we get those guys back, this year or next year, we feel the same way. We have a chance to win it when we get fully healthy.”