One key Denver Nuggets player could be getting rerouted after just one season with the team.
Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson may potentially be a trade candidate this offseason, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Friday during an appearance on YES Network. Scotto notes that fellow Denver forward Peyton Watson will be a restricted free agent this offseason and that the Nuggets would like to keep Watson.
Johnson, 30, is a former first-round draft pick who is in his seventh career NBA season. Denver acquired him last summer in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, sending out Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round draft pick in order to do so.
But Johnson has underwhelmed during his first season as a Nugget. Despite starting for the team, Johnson is averaging just 11.9 points (his lowest since 2020-21) to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Johnson has also missed time due to knee and back issues, limiting him to 51 total games played thus far.
On the year overall, Denver has underwhelmed slightly. While they are 49-28 and on an active seven-game winning streak, the Nuggets still rank fourth in the Western Conference (after getting the No. 1 seed in 2022-23 and the No. 2 seed in 2023-24).
In addition to Watson’s impending free agency, Denver already has Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray making over $50 million per year and Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun making over $25 million per year. If they would like to avoid the second apron of the luxury tax, Johnson may be a necessary cap casualty (especially if the Nuggets want to pursue some recently-rumored surprise offseason plans too).
