Admittedly my goal is to get CP3 to the spurs. I don't think the Suns do this without getting keldon or vassell. I also don't think the nuggets look to break up/mess with their core off a title. But my logic is this:
Suns - With the suns obviously signaling paul isnt going to be on the team one way or another, they're stuck trying to trade him. While this haul isn't great for them, beggars can't be choosers and I don't think any other team offers much more. They get off pauls contract without outright waiving him for nothing, and get some much needed depth in return. While I'm not the biggest Tre Jones fan for the spurs, i think on the suns next to booker and KD he'd be great. He'd help with soaking up possessions and keeping the offense moving when those guys are in their more natural off ball role, and he's improved enough as a stand still shooter and quick decision maker off the catch to play off those stars in crunch time. Branham could be switched out for a 1st round pick but i think the suns would prefer his proven experience over a rookie, and bates-diop is a big wing that could play next to KD at the 4 or at the 5 in small lineups and take pressure off KD to be the teams best defender on the wing.
Starting lineup - Tre Jones, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Keita Bates-Diop, Deandre Ayton
Nuggets - Obviously off a title the nuggets would hang up the phone, but they realistically shouldn't. The new salary cap rules are going to make things tough on the nuggets and they'll already starting feeling those limitations this summer. While MPJ was really good for them this year and in the playoffs, it could be argued bruce brown was all around better, especially at MPJ's price tag. The nuggets should want to keep brown but he deserves a nice payday. a way to try to remedy that is flipping MPJ for the cheaper keldon johnson and resigning brown. I don't know if that $15mil for brown is what his market is right now, but essentially this is turning the ~$40mil that MPJ and brown would cost if brown didn't decline his PO into the pay raise brown will probably command and a more affordable keldon. you lose MPJ's movement shooting but it could be argued with an offensive hub like jokic and with murray stepping into a more consistent role, it wont be as needed. Not to mention keldon would add some downhill attacking the nuggest are currently lacking and hes a smart enough player to replicate MPJ's off ball cutting towards the basket.
Starting lineup - Bruce Brown, Jamal Murray, Keldon Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Spurs - As I said this trade is mainly about getting CP3 to SA, but i think adding MPJ helps open up the court in the starting lineup. It's no secret that while the two current Spurs wings are progressing admirably with Sochan, the addition of Wemby cramps the floor since Keldon's 3pt shooting took a dive with the added offensive responsibility and neither Sochan or Wemby are reliable from distance just yet. I firmly believe vassell is the wing to keep no matter what given his 3pt shooting, defense and length, and ability to create his own shot in the mid range. While MPJ is pricy, the Spurs are currently able to afford it and will be in position to afford it until the end of his contract (Wemby's rookie contract expires the same season MPJ's contract expires). Also, his 3pt shooting both standing still and from distance would benefit everyone playing around him until more guys improve their shooting. The rationale behind getting CP3 is a no brainer. Wemby needs professionals around him to show him the ropes and acclimate him to nba games and life. two years of CP3 would do wonders for Wemby's career and he'd not only help Wemby but Vassell and Sochan too.
Starting lineup - Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Michael Porter Jr, Wembenyama, Jeremy Sochan (or Zach Collins based on matchup)
