Nuggets trade rumor should be of interest to Lakers, Warriors

Denver Nuggets fans should expect the franchise’s 2026-27 roster to look noticeably different than the 2025-26 squad.

Why? The Nuggets are coming off a disappointing 2025-26 campaign in which a depleted Minnesota Timberwolves team eliminated them in the first round of the postseason. Denver has now failed to reach the Western Conference Finals for three consecutive years after capturing a title in 2023. 

Peyton Watson will be the center of attention after his breakout campaign in Denver. However, a recent rumor suggests two other assets could be on the move this summer, and both contributors should receive interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. 

“Watson is one of the more intriguing free agents this summer, even though Denver can match any offer sheet,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote Thursday. “The 23-year-old fits one of the most coveted archetypes in the modern NBA -- versatile 6-foot-8 wing -- but retaining Watson and keeping the current roster intact would push Denver far into the luxury tax.”

“The Nuggets have never been big spenders, which is why the belief around the league is that Cameron Johnson (on an expiring $23 million deal) or Christian Braun (on a five-year, $125 million extension signed in the fall) is likely to be moved to create enough room to give Watson something in the per-year range of those players.”

Given the Lakers and Warriors’ desire to strengthen their wing depth, they could soon find themselves targeting Johnson or Braun on the offseason trade market. Johnson would undoubtedly be the safer option, as he’s the more experienced asset with a far more dependable three-point jumper (he’s shot 39% or better for three for the past four seasons and is shooting 39.6% from beyond the arc.

The Warriors’ offense revolves around elite perimeter shooting, making them the organization that could use Johnson’s sharpshooting services slightly more than the Lakers. 

Still, it would be difficult to argue against the notion that Johnson would succeed with a Lakers squad led by an elite distributor in Luka Doncic, opening up countless drive-and–kick opportunities for the 30-year-old veteran forward.

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