The Denver Nuggets' offseason is barely underway, and all indications point to Cameron Johnson having played his last game as a member of the Nuggets. Which is a shame, because Johnson had his best games and showed the potential the Nuggets traded for in his final two games as the Nuggets were booted from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA insider Jake Fischer points to Johnson as "easiest" to move of the Nuggets trade targets, and it makes total sense because Johnson isn't the most expensive for another team to take on at $23 million next year, but it's also the final year of his contract, and that expiring contract is attractive to opposing teams.
The Nuggets are expected to move someone to save the team from going into the NBA's second apron tax penalties if they re-sign Peyton Watson in free agency. Fischer thought Watson could receive somewhere around $30 million per year, which would put the Nuggets way over the second apron threshold while still having multiple other roster spots to fill.
The Nuggets would much rather have Cam for next year
Cam would be the much more preferred player for the Nuggets to keep since they already traded down from Michael Porter Jr. to Johnson last year. That would be two years in a row the Nuggets would downgrade at wing, but at least they would put Watson into the starting lineup, which would be a potent one for the Nuggets.
But you'd much rather see the Nuggets get off of Christian Braun than Johnson to save money, but that isn't going to be as likely unless the Nuggets are willing to sell-low on Braun. Which they should consider, given the five-year $125 million extension kicks in this season, and Braun was nowhere close to living up to the expectations that will come with it if this past season was any indication.
It's a harsh reality that Braun may not live up to his end of the deal, but if he would just absorb his role for the Nuggets like they need him to do, like Cam did against the Timberwolves in Games 5 and 6, then Braun might not be so bad.
Cam lit up the Wolves for 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in Game 5, and he followed it up with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 5-10 shooting from three. He slashed to the hoop, knocked down the open threes, and looked every bit the part of a player you want to return for the Nuggets.
What should the Nuggets look for in a Cam salary dump trade?
The best thing for the Nuggets to do when dumping Cam to clear cap space would be to find a cheap target they could use to play some defense.
Defensive specialists don't normally carry the price tags that offensive upside players do. The Nuggets could target someone like Derrick Jones Jr. on the Los Angeles Clippers, who is also in the final year of his contract next year. He would be $10.4 million against the cap, netting the Nuggets close to $13 million in savings. But they'd be taking a step back in roster construction. Again.
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