The San Antonio Spurs are in that tricky spot where patience makes sense, but so does a little aggression.
They’ve got one of the brightest futures in the NBA, and that’s exactly why there’s a real argument for not rocking the boat. Young teams can look set for years, then suddenly get broken apart before they ever cash in. San Antonio doesn’t seem headed down that road, but it’s never something you can completely dismiss.
Still, if the Spurs are going to poke around the market for a player who fits cleanly, Cam Johnson stands out. Trey Murphy would be another name worth circling, though it’s not clear whether he’s actually available. Johnson, meanwhile, has been tied to trade chatter, but the latest word says Denver isn’t eager to move him.
“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,” Michael Scotto wrote.
That doesn’t mean the Spurs couldn’t be the team that changes the conversation. San Antonio has the kind of asset stash that can get a front office to listen, both now and down the line, which makes them a legitimate player for an impact wing like Johnson if he ever does become available.
At the same time, that same flexibility could be exactly why the Spurs hold off. They may prefer to keep their powder dry for another move later rather than jump early on a deal that doesn’t line up with their bigger plans.
In Other News...
Nuggets Suddenly Face A Costly Spencer Jones Decision
The Nuggets suddenly have a small but meaningful roster call on their hands after Oklahoma City signed restricted free agent Spencer Jones to an offer sheet. The deal is for two years and $12 million, fully guaranteed, and it puts Denver in the familiar position of deciding whether a young depth piece is worth matching in a market where every contract slot matters.
If the Nuggets pass, Jones would head to the Thunder and step into the open roster spot created when Lu Dort was traded to Atlanta. Denver could still try to keep Jones if it finds a way to move Zeke Nnajis contract, which adds another layer to a decision that is about more than just one player and one offer sheet. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Just Created A Worrying New Problem For DaRon Holmes
Denvers frontcourt picture got a little more crowded after the Nuggets brought in Marvin Bagley III on a one-year minimum deal, a move that gives them another option behind Nikola Jokic and helps fill the void left by Jonas Valanciunas. On paper, it is the kind of low-cost depth signing contenders make all the time. In practice, it changes the conversation around DaRon Holmes, who had been positioned to take on a bigger role as the Nuggets looked for more size and production up front.
Holmes is still trying to carve out his place after a torn Achilles and a rookie year that never really got off the ground, and the margin for error is suddenly thinner. He has to show he can bring value as both a scorer and a defender just to stay in the mix, because Bagley is not the only name competing for those minutes. Trevon Brazile, Denvers second-round pick, is also in the picture, which means Holmes may have to prove quickly that his path to rotation time is still open. [Read more 🡒]
LaMelo Ball Trade Could Hand Nuggets A Lifeline This Summer
The Nuggets are staring at a familiar summer squeeze, with restricted free agency decisions looming for Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones while the front office tries to keep its books flexible enough to maneuver. In that kind of spot, even a team not directly involved in Denvers roster crunch can matter, and Charlotte has suddenly emerged as one of the few clubs with a path to help.
After moving LaMelo Ball, the Hornets created a sizable trade exception that could let them take on a meaningful contract without sending much back, which is exactly the sort of mechanism that can ease a contenders cap pressure. For Denver, that opens a possible escape hatch if it needs to clear room and stay out of the second-apron bind, while Charlotte would be getting the kind of forward depth and veteran presence it has been light on. [Read more 🡒]