The Phoenix Suns might be in the trade business again, and for good reason. The Denver Nuggets will sit $4.8 million over the 2026-27 first apron and $2.6 million below the second, and forward Cam Johnson has a good amount of salary that eats up the bill.
However, Denver's salary cap is tied up in five players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and then Johnson.
The latter is the most expendable, considering he is in the final year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Still, he provides immense value to any team.
He did that during his tenure in Phoenix, becoming a lethal knockdown shooter and someone who can help establish a small-ball lineup.
Nonetheless, the Nuggets can likely trade Johnson, but sending him back to the Valley of the Sun would make the most sense.
What would a Cam Johnson trade look like for the Suns and Nuggets?
Suns receive: Cameron Johnson + Denver's No. 26 overall pick
Nuggets receive: Grayson Allen + Phoenix's No. 47 overall pick
Realistically, the only way to make the salaries work would be to trade Grayson Allen. He has two years and roughly $38 million in total. Funny enough, the trade seems like more of a positional swap.
Both guys play a similar style, with moving off the ball and being elite snipers from deep.
Most importantly, this trade could get Denver out of the first tax apron and not have to face any repercussions from the league. But to sweeten the deal and make it more appealing, they could send the 2026 first pick to Phoenix.
Because of the Stepien rule, they are not able to make the trade before the draft. The Nuggets would need to make the draft selection and then complete this deal.
During exit interviews, Allen seemed uncertain if his time with the Suns would last. He mentioned he wants to stay, but understands the business.
Cam Johnson gives the Suns a positional need
Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (23) drives with the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center.
Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
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The Suns went extremely small during stints of the 2025-26 season, playing with guys like Royce O'Neale (6'6) and Jordan Goodwin (6'3) at the power forward spots.
Both men play bigger than their size, but size is something you can't teach. Johnson brings that, despite being on the smaller size (6'8), his skill set assimilates nicely.
A near 40% shooter from deep in his career, that alone is exactly what head coach Jordan Ott is looking for. Not to mention, Johnson's defense has vastly improved since his first three-and-a-half seasons with Phoenix.
Playing small can only get you so far, especially with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, who don't lack in that category. That's not to say that he will be the magic pill to all of Phoenix's answers.
At the very least, it will be a step in the right direction to keep building that identity and making this rendition of the Suns more well-rounded.
Nostalgia would be felt in the Valley
Obviously, Johnson was a major part of the team's 2021 NBA Finals run. He was only in his second season, but he showed why the franchise traded for his rights in the 2019 draft.
His poster dunk over PJ Tucker still lives rent-free in the heads of Suns fans. Many of those fans have kept up with him since being a part of the Brooklyn Nets and then with Denver.
Phoenix basketball seems to be getting closer and closer to where it was. With the Suns reshaping their culture in a perceived retooling year, anything is possible.
Johnson would bring back the vibes, but his fit would be the element that this team needed last season, and something closer to happening than people might expect.
The Phoenix Suns might be in the trade business again, and for good reason. The Denver Nuggets will sit $4. 8 million over the 2026-27 first apron and $2. 6 million below the second, and forward Cam Johnson has a good amount of salary that eats up the bill. However, Denver's salary cap is tied up in five players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and then Johnson.