The Lakers are running out of room on the roster, but they may still have one more swing left before the season gets going.
With 16 players already on the team, there isn’t an obvious spot to fill, yet Los Angeles is still exploring ways to upgrade the group. The original focus was Jonathan Kuminga in a sign-and-trade, but that path has become increasingly messy. Now, a different forward is being floated as a more realistic target: Nuggets swingman Cam Johnson.
Insider Ryan Ward laid out the idea this way: “With the pursuit of Kuminga seemingly getting more and more complicated, the Lakers should head in another direction, with Cam Johnson potentially there for the taking. The Lakers could offer a trade package of Vanderbilt and LaRavia,”
That package would involve Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia, two players the Lakers have clearly been willing to move on from. Both were pushed out of JJ Redick’s rotation last season, and with LeBron James gone and so much money tied up in the top three players (Doncic, Reaves, Kessler), those kinds of deals may be the only realistic path to meaningful change without breaking up the core.
The bigger question is whether Denver would bite. The Nuggets aren’t exactly in a comfortable spot financially, and restricted free agent Peyton Watson is pushing for $25 million per year.
If they decide Watson is too expensive to keep, moving Johnson could help them manage the bill. A trade with the Lakers would also bring back two role players.
For Los Angeles, the appeal is obvious. Johnson would give them the fifth starter they still need if they’re serious about competing next season.
The Lakers already have a solid foundation with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Walker Kessler, but the forward spot remains a clear hole. Peyton Watson was their first choice there, but he’s too pricey for them to realistically chase, which leaves Johnson as the best fit for that level of production.
Last season, Johnson played 54 games and put up 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. He started all 54 games, giving Denver spacing on the floor and defense on the perimeter as the team finished 54-28 in the West. He’s also on an expiring deal, with $23 million owed next season, which only adds another layer to the decision.
The Lakers still need someone who can help replace LeBron if they want to stay in the mix next season, and right now they look thin on the perimeter, especially on defense. There’s still time to make a move, and Johnson stands out as a strong option in a market that doesn’t offer many easy answers.
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