The Utah Jazz don’t exactly have a glaring need for Cameron Johnson, but he still might end up being the piece that helps them land the center they actually want.
Johnson is a 3/4, and Utah already figures to soak up most of its wing minutes with Lauri Markkanen and Ace Bailey, while Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. handle the bulk of the work at power forward. That makes Johnson more of a luxury than a necessity. The real target for Utah, if it goes this direction, would be another center.
That’s where Denver comes in. The Nuggets are above the NBA’s second tax apron, and moving Johnson would help them trim enough money to get below it. It’s not a massive savings, but Denver would also likely want some cushion so it doesn’t flirt with the line again.
Denver doesn’t have an obvious center to send Utah’s way, though no one would complain about Nikola Jokic in a Jazz uniform. Dallas, on the other hand, has Daniel Gafford, and Cleveland could eventually have Jarrett Allen available.
Sports Illustrated’s Art Cummings already sketched out one path for Utah to get Allen in a deal centered on Cameron Johnson.
#LetMeCook pic.twitter.com/HjG0yexjkE
- Art Cummings (@ArtTakesNote) July 28, 2026
The tricky part is that neither Denver nor Cleveland is looking for young talent, while Dallas is. That makes the Mavericks a natural fourth team in a complicated trade, especially since they’re rebuilding and could be looking to move Gafford for younger pieces.
One version of the deal could send Johnson and Gafford to Cleveland, Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykahiluk (via TPE, who they would waive) and Kyle Filipowski to Dallas, John Konchar and Jalen Tyson to Denver, and Jarrett Allen to Utah.
There’s also the question of whether Utah should help Cleveland at all, given what the Cavaliers still owe the Jazz. But if a move improves Utah’s immediate future, that’s the priority. Cleveland’s urgency is also starting to show, and that pressure could build.
None of these teams is likely rushing into a blockbuster like this right now, especially with Denver not needing to get under the second apron until next year’s trade deadline. Still, as the season goes on and the fit becomes clearer, a deal along these lines could make real sense.
In Other News...
Jazz May Have A Real Fix For Their Biggest Roster Hole
The Jazz have spent enough time sorting through their frontcourt to know the issue is bigger than a single game or a short stretch of injuries. Losing Walker Kessler left Utah looking for more stability at center, and the current options only underscore the uncertainty around that spot. Jusuf Nurkic, Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba give the roster bodies, but not necessarily the kind of dependable answer the Jazz want if they are trying to firm up the middle for the long haul.
That is why the idea of a trade keeps surfacing, even if nothing has been finalized. Utah has the flexibility to chase a center without necessarily gutting the rest of the roster, and the front office is clearly weighing whether the right fit is out there. Houstons situation adds another layer, since the Rockets may have reasons to hold onto their big man unless circumstances shift, which leaves the Jazz monitoring a market that could move slowly before it moves at all. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Free Agency Just Turned One Rotation Battle Into Real Trouble
Utahs free-agency work was never going to reshape the roster overnight, but it did quietly change the math for a few players who were counting on steady roles. Josh Okogie brings a defense-first, 3-and-D profile, Jaxson Hayes adds another big to the mix, and Mo Bamba is back after re-signing, giving the Jazz more options as they sort out the frontcourt and the wing minutes.
The ripple effect is easiest to see on the perimeter, where Svi Mykhailiuk had a cleaner path to consistent playing time last season than he may have now. With Okogie in the picture and Darryn Peterson also taking time at the two, the wing rotation looks tighter, and that can leave hustle types like Konchar fighting for scraps if Utah decides it wants more size, more defense, or more development reps in those spots. [Read more 🡒]
Jazz Fans Keep Waiting For The Center Upgrade That Makes Sense
The Jazz are still sorting through the center spot without a clear long-term answer, and for now the front office does not appear to be rushing toward a replacement for Walker Kessler. Utah has leaned on a committee approach with Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Filipowski and Jaxson Hayes, a mix that keeps the position covered but does little to settle the bigger question of what the rotation is supposed to look like going forward.
That is why any chatter around Jarrett Allen naturally gets attention in Utah, even if the path is far from straightforward. Jake Fischer has noted that Atlanta has interest in Allen, but Cleveland has not been considering a move, which leaves the Jazz in wait-and-see mode for now. If the Cavaliers outlook changes later, Allen could become the kind of upgrade Utah has been searching for, especially with the sort of draft capital and young talent that could make a deal worth exploring. [Read more 🡒]