{"id":171117,"date":"2025-12-31T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=171117"},"modified":"2025-12-30T23:26:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:26:37","slug":"why-the-nuggets-cameron-johnson-trade-looks-smarter-with-jokic-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/12\/31\/why-the-nuggets-cameron-johnson-trade-looks-smarter-with-jokic-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Why The Nuggets\u2019 Cameron Johnson Trade Looks Smarter With Jokic Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

DENVER \u2013 The Nuggets<\/a> have weathered an injury storm in the top-heavy Western Conference. They sit third in the West with a 22\u201310 record. They have missed starters for most of the season. Nikola Jokic<\/a> and Jamal Murray<\/a> have driven that resilience. Jokic\u2019s injury on Monday night against Miami changes the equation. The team will be without its MVP candidate for the next couple of weeks. As a result, the Cameron Johnson<\/a> trade looks even smarter for the Nuggets.<\/p>\n

Why The Nuggets\u2019 Cameron Johnson Trade Looks Smarter With Jokic Out<\/h2>\n

Injuries Stretch Denver\u2019s Rotation<\/h3>\n
\"Sep
Sep 29, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets players Nikola Jokic (15) and Jonas Valanciunas (17) pose for a picture during media day at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Nuggets have played without two starters for over a month. Christian Braun<\/a> and Aaron Gordon<\/a> have remained sidelined by injuries. Braun has missed action since mid-November. He suffered a left ankle sprain. Gordon followed a week later on the injury report. He sustained a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. The team hopes both return near the end of a brutal seven-game road trip. Johnson remains out until mid-January with a right knee injury. Denver will miss four starters for at least the next few games. Jokic\u2019s absence has amplified every issue Denver has faced this season.<\/p>\n

The Offseason Strategy Comes Into Focus<\/h3>\n

As Denver scrambles to redefine roles without its MVP, its offseason strategy stands out again. Over the summer, the Nuggets traded former lottery pick Michael Porter Jr.<\/a> for Johnson. They aimed to improve roster flexibility. After pushing eventual champion Oklahoma City to seven games, the front office identified a need. The team needed better depth.<\/p>\n

Financial Flexibility Creates Depth<\/h3>\n

Denver attached an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to sweeten the deal for Brooklyn . That move helped the Nuggets drop below the luxury tax. Porter Jr.\u2019s $38 million salary became Johnson\u2019s $20.5 million cap hit. The $17 million difference unlocked the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That flexibility allowed Denver to build real depth. Jonas Valanciunas<\/a>, Tim Hardaway Jr.<\/a>, and Bruce Brown<\/a> arrived in Denver as a result. Those players now shoulder heavier responsibility. Injuries have forced Denver to lean on them<\/a> more than expected.<\/p>\n

Why Raw Numbers Miss the Point<\/h3>\n

Questions remain about whether this depth can salvage a brutal season.<\/a> Some argue Brooklyn won the trade. Porter Jr. has thrived with the Nets<\/a>. He averages nearly 26 points, over seven rebounds, and a career-high three assists. He shoots 41 percent on more than nine three-point attempts per game. Johnson\u2019s numbers pale in comparison. He averages 11 points, a six-year low. He also adds nearly four rebounds and over two assists. Those raw numbers mislead. They ignore how Denver\u2019s depth now sustains a contender under strain.<\/p>\n

A Trade That Buys Survival<\/h3>\n

The Cameron Johnson trade gives Denver a fighting chance, which is why it looks even smarter in Jokic’s absence. It allows the Nuggets to absorb injuries without collapsing. What once looked like a lateral move now looks like survival planning. Under the current circumstances, that makes all the difference.<\/p>\n