Cameron Johnson has spent the past six seasons overcoming external instability. The Phoenix Suns traded him just one year after he finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting, the Brooklyn Nets were never built to contend, and his most productive season led to a trade to the Denver Nuggets.
Thankfully, the move to Denver has gifted Johnson with the one thing he's struggled to secure: The opportunity to set down roots and reach new peaks without the fear of being traded.
Johnson finished the 2021-22 season averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made in 26.2 minutes per game—all of which were new career-best marks. He did so while shooting 42.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Unfortunately, he averaged just 25.2 minutes per game with the Suns the following year before ultimately finding himself as a member of the trade for Kevin Durant.
Johnson made the most of his two-and-a-half seasons in Brooklyn, setting career-best averages across the board. That includes a 2024-25 campaign in which he raised his game to an entirely new level with marks of 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.8 three-point field goals made.
The trade to Denver means he'll soon be playing for his third team in four seasons, but stability is sincerely possible at his new destination.
Nuggets provide Cameron Johnson with the role stability he's lacked
Denver acquired Johnson to replace longtime starting forward Michael Porter Jr., for whom he was traded. Porter is coming off of a strong season himself, averaging 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per game.
Fit has long been a question, however, due in no small part to Porter's postseason shortcomings and wavering defensive intensity.
With this in mind, Johnson can secure a long-term future in Denver by simply thriving in the areas Porter struggled to. If he proves reliable on defense and effective in the playoffs, the trade will instantly prove beneficial to the Nuggets' long-term goals.
Thankfully, Porter boasts career postseason averages of 10.2 points and 1.8 three-point field goals made in just 24.2 minutes per game, shooting at a clip of .489/.416/.859.
That success should translate to Denver, where his surroundings are undoubtedly ideal. Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon are versatile defenders who will flank him at the 2 and 4 spots, and both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are high-level scorers and willing passers.
Jokic's brilliance as a playmaker should create an endless stream of opportunities for Johnson, who shot 40.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25 and 42.1 percent in 2023-24.
With two guaranteed years remaining on his contract, it stands to reason that Johnson will spend the rest of his deal in Denver if he plays at the level he's capable of. There's an equally as compelling possibility that a strong 2025-26 campaign could earn him an extension.
After years of playing in unstable situations, Johnson has finally joined a contender that seems to have the intention of featuring him in a prominent role and keeping him around for years to come.