The writing seems to be on the wall that Cameron Johnson is going to be dumped to someone this offseason to save on salary. It appears the Denver Nuggets are going to do their best to avoid the NBA's second apron tax threshold to re-sign Peyton Watson. If the Nuggets do go that route, the Boston Celtics could have a viable, sneaky-good option to replace Cam in 2026-27 in Sam Hauser.
The idea comes out of a wild Bill Simmons hypothetical trade idea that sends Jaylen Brown to the New Orleans Pelicans for a Trey Murphy III package, and he stacked on Johnson and the Nuggets.
Nuggets receive: Sam Hauser and the number 40 pick of the 2026 NBA draft.
Celtics receive: Cam Johnson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Yves Missi, the Nuggets number 26 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, and a 2030 Pelicans pick.
Pelicans receive: Jaylen Brown
The Nuggets would be taking yet another downgrade, after taking a downgrade from Michael Porter Jr. to Johnson last season, plus losing out on a chance at real talent in the deep draft this year. But at least Hauser is a good fallback for Cam, given the scenario.
Hauser could be a good fit for the value
Given the Nuggets' options to replace Johnson, Hauser is about as solid as you get for the substantial cap savings the Nuggets would pick up. Hauser averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds while making 49 starts for the Celtics this year. He's not the best defender, but neither is Cam. But Hauser's a capable enough defender, and at just $10.8 million versus Cam's $23 million, it is a substantial savings for the Nuggets.
Hauser's a three-point specialist, much like Johnson, and he'd fit right in with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets' three-point attack. Hauser is a career 41.2% from beyond the arc, and he can space the floor and has range from just about anywhere, much like Cam. Jokic would have another elite three-point option to find, and Hauser could see more volume and a career year in Denver.
Not the best trade with the draft pick, but not awful
The Nuggets should just be paying the tax and keeping Cam, but that's probably not the reality they're going to roll with. Which means a salary-dump trade to keep Watson, and this one isn't bad. Hauser is at least a capable replacement. The problem is that draft pick.
The Nuggets don't have a pick in 2027, in the first or second round, unless they end up in the first through fifth spot in next year's draft via protections. Not likely. And moving from 26 to 40 takes them out of range in a deep class that could offer a future budding star.
It's not the best deal, but the Nuggets probably won't be getting great offers to cut salary this summer. But at least they'd get a quality three-point shooting replacement in Hauser.
Add us as a preferred source on Google