Nuggets face cap squeeze with Braun, Johnson emerging as trade options

Denver's second-apron constraints and Nikola Jokic's looming extension have put Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson at the center of trade speculation heading into camp.

The Denver Nuggets head into training camp on September 29 with a salary cap problem shaping their roster decisions. The second apron effectively prevented them from re-signing Peyton Watson, who departed in a sign-and-trade that returned only an unprotected 2031 first-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Denver also lost Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas this offseason. The team added DeMar DeRozan, Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III, Alpha Diallo and Cam Whitmore, and re-signed Spencer Jones, but made no major moves to replace the outgoing contributors.

The core issue is the cap sheet. Nikola Jokic is eligible for an extension that could average around $70 million per season, and once signed, Denver would have nearly $160 million committed to Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon alone. Adding Christian Braun's roughly $23.3 million for 2027-28 pushes that figure near $180 million for four players.

Braun signed a five-year, $125 million extension after a strong 2024-25 season in which he averaged 15.4 points on 58/40/83 shooting splits. Last season he appeared in just 44 games, averaging 12 points on 52/30/78 shooting. With Watson developing into a two-way contributor the Nuggets could not afford to keep, Denver chose to retain Braun, but his contract now complicates the team's long-term finances.

Cameron Johnson is also a trade candidate. He missed 28 games in his first season with the Nuggets and saw his scoring average drop by nearly six points from his Brooklyn form. Johnson is entering the final year of a deal paying $23.1 million, and without restricted free agency rights, Denver could lose him for nothing if it cannot agree to an extension. Tyus Jones, who started 37 games last season, would be a ready replacement if Johnson is dealt.