The Denver Nuggets are very excited about what Cameron Johnson can bring to the table, and according to a coach who spoke with Spotrac’s Keith Smith at Summer League, they see him as a perfect fit alongside Nikola Jokic.
“When you move a core player, which is what Michael Porter Jr. was for us, you have to be sure you are getting back a really good player,” the coach told Smith. “Cam is going to fit in perfectly for us. Everyone is focused on his shooting and how he’s pretty solid on defense. What really attracted us to Cam is that he’s an excellent cutter. Because we’ve got passers all over, including the big guy (Nikola Jokic), Cam is going to get a bunch of layups too.”
Johnson is everything the Nuggets need.
How will Cameron Johnson help the Nuggets?
Michael Porter Jr. is a fine player. He’s a great rebounder, an impressive three-point shooter, and a nice off-ball threat to play alongside Jokic. In 2023, his contributions were crucial to the Nuggets’ Finals run.
But Johnson is an upgrade. (And a cheaper upgrade at that.) He’s an elite three-point shooter (even better than Porter Jr.), but it’s what he brings in other areas of the day that makes him a perfect fit, especially next to Jokic.
Johnson’s shot creation is a level above Porter’s. He’s had the chance to play in a fairly open environment with the Brooklyn Nets for the past two years, allowing him to play off the dribble.
His three-point volume has also been very high, and in an offense in which Jokic will be running the show, that’s a very important quality. Johnson is very comfortable moving off the ball, too, which will help Jokic find him beyond the arc.
Plus, as noted by the Nuggets coach, Johnson’s cutting will give Jokic a very fun new guy to play with alongside Aaron Gordon, who has turned himself into one of the best cutters in the NBA, thanks to Jokic’s incredible passing abilities.
Add in his defense, and the Nuggets couldn’t have hand-picked a better player to pair next to their franchise superstar.
Obviously, giving up a guy like Porter is significant, but the Nuggets know that. And they feel as though Johnson was a significant enough upgrade to give up a future first-round pick in the deal, too.
The Nuggets are absolutely thrilled to have Johnson in town, and they’re ready to gun for another championship with him as a part of their core.