This trade is about opening up cap space to resign Peyton Watson next summer. Note that these trades are successful as 2 separate trades. As it’s looking, Denver paid the wrong guy in Christian Braun. If the roster stays as is, the nuggets cannot retain Peyton Watson next offseason as they have no money to offer him. He will 100% be gone if things stand pat and the nuggets roster will be back to paper thin with Christian Brauns extension kicking in next offseason.

So, with the clippers more than likely looking to trade John Collins, Denver could potentially offer them Cam Johnson in return for Collins and a couple second rounders to facilitate a Zeke Nnaji dump. Maybe they could squeeze a first out of the Clippers but I don’t think LA will be looking to trade any more FRP. This trade isn’t about who’s the better player or who’s the better fit, it’s about John Collins being on an expiring contract. He’s currently getting paid 26mil a year and if Denver is able to grab that contract and free up that money next summer, that’d be bigger than keeping Cam Johnson.

Second move, Denver trades Zeke Nnaji to the hornets for Pat, who’s also on an expiring contract. This trade is self explanatory. Free up money.

Next, Denver declines all team options next summer for the trash players like Hunter Tyson and Pickett, further opening up cap space. Jonas is also gone next season so his money will free up. Unless they trade him, which they shouldn’t. Just waive him and open up that money too.

After cleaning house and after Christian Brauns extension kicks in, with these moves they’d head into next offseason 40 million dollars under the first apron and 53 million under the second apron. Plenty of cap space to revamp but more importantly, cap space to resign Watson and another high value player that can really make a splash. Such as an Ayo Dosunmu, Keon Ellis, Grimes etc. Rather than relying on minimum contract players to contribute. Trading cam Johnson for Collins is a small sacrifice to make in order to have this much freedom next summer and that much of a better roster next season.

Me personally, I’d also trade Christian Braun. But he’s impossible to move right now with his poison pill contract so that’d have to wait til next summer. If I were to make these moves, I’d slot Ayo in as my starting SG and trade Christian Braun for a starting caliber SF for the starting lineup since Denver will then be without Cam or Collins. Plenty of teams will be looking to get younger next offseason after failing this year. Trading Braun for a Dillon brooks, Naji Marshall + 1, or any 3&D SF would make this team better with Ayo as the other wing player. Worst comes to worst, just move Braun to the SF in the starting 5 but his lack of shooting really isn’t what Denver needs around Jokic. So I’d look to trade him for a shooter.

In my opinion, Denver should revamp with this Cam for Collins trade. A lot of good role players will be free agents next summer and with Denver’s current roster, they will be handcuffed and unable to capitalize on any of those role players plus losing one of their best role players in Peyton Watson. The current season is ongoing but you still have to keep the future in mind. As is, the nuggets will be back to a thin bench with zero cap space next summer. Exactly what they’ve been trying to avoid and why MPJ was traded. If some expiring contracts aren’t acquired, they’ll be right back to the same position.