Rival teams keep calling Denver about Cameron Johnson, and the front office keeps giving them the same answer.
Trade season never really stops in Denver, and the latest reporting shows rival front offices are still circling one of the Nuggets' most important wings.
Teams around the league have spent the summer checking in on Cameron Johnson, hoping the franchise might look to shed the final year of his contract.
The interest is understandable, since Denver has spent much of the offseason managing the second apron and weighing the cost of keeping its core together.
The answer coming out of the front office has stayed consistent all summer, and it should reassure fans who want this group to get one more real run at a title.
HoopsHype reported Wednesday that "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."
Why Denver Refuses to Budge
Johnson gave the Nuggets exactly the perimeter shooting the front office wanted when it acquired him from Brooklyn in the Michael Porter Jr. trade last July.
He averaged 12.2 points while shooting 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from three in 54 games during his first season in Denver, career-best efficiency built on clean looks next to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Injuries cost him chunks of the season, including a long absence that stretched until near the All-Star break, yet his fit alongside the starters was never in question.
Johnson turned 30 in March and will enter the season on an expiring deal, which gives Denver flexibility no matter what happens.
Michael Scotto reported back in June that the Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Clippers and Magic had all shown interest, and veteran insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer later noted Denver had rebuffed several offers while showing little urgency to duck under the second apron.
How This Fits Denver's Offseason
The Nuggets went 54-28 and finished third in the Western Conference before a disappointing first-round exit against Minnesota, so the front office has faced real questions about the roster's direction all summer.
Denver's stance on Johnson tracks with reporting that the team's offseason trade plans seem to be changing, even after a stretch in which two starters sat on the NBA trade radar.
The front office has since parted with Jonas Valanciunas and added depth pieces such as Marvin Bagley and Alpha Diallo.
Hovering over everything is Jokic, who gave Nuggets fans an encouraging update amid his contract talks.
"My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career," the three-time MVP said earlier this month.
Keeping Johnson signals the organization plans to win with Jokic right now rather than trim salary around him.
Restricted free agent Peyton Watson remains the other loose end, and how Denver handles both wings will define the rest of its summer.
