Cameron Johnson cracked the league’s short list of the most logical trade candidates entering this summer. To date, though, incoming calls “have been rebuffed” by the Nuggets, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
So, why bother putting Johnson on this list? Two reasons.
First, Scotto noted that potential trade partners who called the Nuggets were “hoping they’d be willing to dump” Johnson. So, this resistance might have a lot less to do with Denver actually wanting to keep Johnson and a lot more to do with dissatisfaction in what’s being offered for him. If those offers ever improve—and they should given his production, playoff experience and reasonable pay rate (expiring $23.1 million salary)—then these discussions should, too.
Second, the Nuggets still haven’t solved the restricted free agency puzzle with Peyton Watson. Could that open the door to a possible sign-and-trade? In theory, sure, but how does Denver get better by moving its best perimeter defender (who just had his best offensive season by a mile)? The Nuggets “value Watson significantly,” per The Athletic’s Tony Jones, they’re just going about this carefully, which restricted free agency allows them to do.
If Watson is eventually re-signed, they might have to shed some salary, and a Johnson trade might offer the best blend of bringing something back without causing too much disruption.
