In 2025-2026, the Denver Nuggets finished 54-28, good for the third seed in the Western Conference. Denver played the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs and lost the series 4-2. 

After a disappointing end to their season, the Nuggets now have many questions to answer regarding their roster. The franchise is also going through a tight salary cap situation, which means the roster could look much different in 2026. 

One indicator of big changes incoming was when Nuggets President Josh Kroenke told the media that everyone except Nikola Jokic is "on the table" for a potential trade. 

With the Nuggets having to hurdle some salary cap challenges, one player they should look into moving is Cameron Johnson. 

Johnson is 30 years old and is coming off a season in which he averaged 12.2 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He took a dip in performance this season compared to the one prior with the Brooklyn Nets. 

Next season, Johnson is owed over $23 million and is entering the last season of his deal. He still has some upside and could be someone that other teams pursue. Johnson brings size and length and has proven to be a reliable shooter in his previous seasons in the NBA. 

In return, Denver could get more assets to build for the future, but the most important return is freeing up space to sign other players. One player they will likely want to bring back is Peyton Watson, who showed real promise last season. 

Watson is just 23 years old and is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 14.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Watson dealt with injuries for much of this past season, but with an elevated role and a healthy season, he can contribute a lot more to the Nuggets moving forward. 

Since their championship season, Denver has been on a slow descent. They have battled through injuries and players underperforming, preventing them from reaching the Finals again. 

One thing has not changed, though, and that's that Nikola Jokic is still one of the best players in the world. While the rest of the team may be going through changes, Denver cannot afford to go into a rebuild and waste the good years Nikola Jokic has to offer. As long as he is on the roster, the Nuggets have an opportunity to win championships.