The Denver Nuggets appear to be making their intentions pretty clear: Cameron Johnson is staying put, at least for now.
That’s a notable shift from where this offseason seemed headed. With Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency hanging over everything, the expectation was that Denver would move Johnson to create cap flexibility, re-sign Watson, and stay under the second apron. Instead, the Nuggets are now looking more willing to absorb the financial hit and keep the roster intact.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, rival teams have checked in on Johnson, but Denver has shut those conversations down. “Numerous teams have called the Denver Nuggets hoping they’d be willing to dump forward Cam Johnson, who’s owed $23.06 million in the final year of his contract, but those inquiries have been rebuffed, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
That’s a pretty strong signal from a team that, not long ago, seemed likely to treat Johnson as a trade chip. As late as June and early July, he was widely seen as a possible move. Now the Nuggets look more interested in keeping their core together and dealing with the consequences later.
If that means re-signing Watson without making a major subtraction, Denver is essentially choosing to live above the second apron in pursuit of a title run. In plain terms, they’d rather pay than weaken the roster.
Johnson is a big reason why that makes sense. The 30-year-old was one of the league’s top three-point shooters last season, knocking down 43% of his 4.7 attempts per game.
That helped Denver finish as the league’s most efficient three-point shooting team. If he gives them that same kind of spacing again, the fit is obvious.
There’s also the possibility that Johnson’s expiring $23.1 million contract could become useful closer to February’s trade deadline. But for now, the Nuggets seem content to keep him in the mix.
That decision also points toward the same starting five returning next season. Even if Watson is re-signed, he would likely remain in a bench role, despite the kind of contract that could land in the $20-30 million per year range.
Still, it’s hard to argue with what Denver’s best group showed when healthy. Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic logged only 360 minutes together, but in that stretch they posted a +12.9 net rating.
After the season, Josh Kroenke made it clear he believes there’s more here. “I thought that if this group was healthy that this could be a 60-65 win team, but we never got a chance to fully show it.”
“That's why I say everything has to be on the table, including running it back. I really do believe in the group...”
So while plenty of fans expected Denver to move Johnson, the Nuggets are signaling the opposite. They may be willing to pay the price to keep this core together and see what better health can do next season.
In Other News...
Nuggets Quiet Summer Is Raising A Bigger West Concern
Denvers offseason has been more about holding the line than pushing forward, with the front office adding Marvin Bagley III, Alpha Diallo, and rookies Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins while otherwise keeping the core intact. In a vacuum, that might feel like patience. In a Western Conference where San Antonio, Oklahoma City, the Lakers, Minnesota and Houston have all found ways to upgrade, it looks a lot more like standing still.
The concern is less about star power than the edges of the roster, where the Nuggets can ill afford to be thin if the conference keeps getting deeper around them. There are questions in the backcourt, the frontcourt mix is crowded without looking especially clean, and Hopkins remains unsigned, leaving the summer unfinished as training camp approaches. For a team trying to stay in the top tier, that kind of quiet can start to sound like a warning sign. [Read more 🡒]
Why Nikola Jokic's Extension Still Feels Unsettling For Nuggets Fans
Nikola Jokic has said he plans to sign a contract extension with Denver, which should be enough to calm most fan bases. It usually would be for the Nuggets, too, except this offseason has kept the conversation alive in a way that feels a little off for a reigning centerpiece. Analyst Bobby Marks has been among those questioning how much the roster has actually changed, and his skepticism has only sharpened the sense that Denver is still trying to prove its latest version can keep pace in a crowded West.
The uneasy part is that Jokic himself has not given anyone reason to think he is looking for drama, and that matters. Still, whenever a superstars long-term future comes up around a team that is searching for the right next move, the mind naturally drifts to cautionary examples from around the league, including the path that eventually took Giannis Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee. Denver is not there, and Jokic has not acted like a player setting the stage for anything like that, but the lingering questions are enough to keep the topic from going away. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Just Sent Cam Johnson A Message About His Future
The Nuggets have made their stance on Cam Johnson clear, turning away trade interest and signaling that they view the forward as part of their plans moving forward. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Denver has rebuffed inquiries from around the league for Johnson, who is entering the final year of his contract at $23.06 million.
Johnsons appeal is easy to understand. He gave Denver steady production last season, averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while providing the kind of spacing teams covet. His season was interrupted by a knee bone bruise that cost him more than a month, but the Nuggets willingness to hold firm suggests they are betting on his fit and health rather than exploring a quick reset. [Read more 🡒]