The Denver Nuggets’ offense is built to punish any defense that blinks, and Cameron Johnson looks like the piece that can make the whole thing hum.
When the Nuggets brought in DeMar DeRozan on a one-year veteran’s minimum contract, the first questions were about fit. The concern was obvious: how do you keep the floor spaced when DeRozan and Nikola Jokic are working in the midrange?
The answer, at least on paper, is Johnson. His three-point shooting gives Denver the kind of release valve that can keep defenders honest and keep the lane from getting crowded.
Johnson’s first season in Denver got off to a slow start, and then a right knee injury on Dec. 23 slowed him down even more. He missed 23 games before coming back on Feb.
- Even with that interruption, his jumper held up.
He finished 2025-26 shooting 43.0% from deep, the eighth-best mark in the league.
The volume dipped, though. In Brooklyn in 2024-25, Johnson was taking 7.2 threes per game.
That fell to 4.7 last season in Denver, a reflection of how the Nuggets’ offense runs. With Tim Hardaway Jr. leaving for South Beach this offseason, that number should climb again.
But the bigger point is this: Johnson doesn’t just need more attempts. He needs the kind of accuracy that forces defenses to stay attached to him.
That’s where the fit gets dangerous for opponents. If wings collapse to help on Jokic or DeRozan, Johnson is the kind of shooter who can make them pay immediately.
Jokic remains one of the best passers in the game, and DeRozan, despite the reputation that follows him, is a better playmaker than he gets credit for. His 4.1 assists last season with the Sacramento Kings would have ranked third on the Nuggets.
If defenders lean in too hard, Johnson should see clean looks.
And if the defense gets there in time, Johnson can still attack the rim. He showed that in Games 5 and 6 of the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he gave Denver another path to offense.
In Game 5, he scored 18 points on 6-for-6 shooting from two, with most of that damage coming on drives. In Game 6, the Timberwolves gave him more space from the outside, and he knocked down 5 of 10 three-pointers.
He also kept pressuring the paint, drawing 9 free-throw attempts and making 6. He finished the series-ending loss with 27 points.
For Denver to be at its best, Johnson has to be a major part of the equation. With DeRozan now in the mix, he has the setup to do exactly that.
In Other News...
Clippers Punishment Just Changed One Nikola Jokic Fear For Nuggets Fans
Nikola Jokics long-term future has been one of the few looming questions around the Nuggets, even after he has repeatedly signaled that he wants to stay in Denver. He has not signed an extension, and with free agency still a business decision in 2027, any team hoping to dream on a Jokic chase has had to at least keep one eye on the possibility.
The NBAs punishment of the Clippers for salary cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard changes that calculus in a big way. With the league stripping Los Angeles of five first-round picks from 2029 through 2033 and suspending key executives, the franchises ability to build toward a star pursuit has taken a severe hit, and the idea of the Clippers as a future Jokic destination has effectively gone out the window. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Enter A Roster Crossroads With 4 Futures Suddenly In Doubt
Denvers roster picture is already starting to bend toward the next offseason, and a few familiar names are suddenly sitting in the middle of it. The Nuggets are looking at a stretch in which contract decisions, performance and a tightening salary-cap outlook could all collide, putting some of the depth pieces around the core under a brighter spotlight than usual as the franchise thinks ahead to the 2026-27 season.
The uncertainty is not just about whether those players fit, but whether the team can afford to keep carrying everyone if the on-court return does not justify the price. Between possible trades, release decisions and the realities of roster-building for a contender, this is the kind of crossroads that can reshape a bench quickly, and the next few months should say plenty about which direction Denver wants to take. [Read more 🡒]
Former Nuggets Title Piece Is Suddenly In Lakers Rumors
Dalton Knechts rough start has already pushed the Lakers into a familiar kind of roster math, and it has opened the door to another name Nuggets fans know well. Los Angeles is reportedly searching for a team willing to take on the young wings development project, with the bigger picture being how to better shape the roster around Luka Doncic in the future.
One of the cleaner ideas floating around league circles is a path that would clear salary and allow the Lakers to add help on the wing, with several moves tied together rather than a single swap. For Denver, the interesting part is the veteran free agent angle attached to the discussion, because it points back to a former title piece who could again be on the move as the Lakers try to solve both their short-term rotation and long-term cap sheet. [Read more 🡒]