{"id":322782,"date":"2026-06-28T20:30:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T20:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/322782\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T20:30:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T20:30:11","slug":"evaluating-magics-chances-to-trade-for-cameron-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/322782\/","title":{"rendered":"Evaluating Magic’s chances to trade for Cameron Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets are in similar positions financially entering the 2026 offseason.<\/p>\n

After releasing Jonathan Isaac, the Magic saved $6.5 million off their cap sheet, where they are $2.8 million above the first apron. The Nuggets are deeper into the tax, resting $10.4 million above the first and $2.6 million below the ultra-punitive second just days before free agency.<\/p>\n

Though the Nuggets are perceived to be under more pressure to make more (cost-cutting) moves this summer to retain Peyton Watson and contend in a stacked West. And Orlando reportedly has interest <\/a>in this one Nuggets veteran, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.<\/p>\n

“Meanwhile, as the Nuggets navigate getting below the second apron, sharpshooting forward Cam Johnson has drawn trade interest from several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, and Orlando Magic, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. <\/a><\/p>\n

Sources: Nikola Jokic has reiterated a desire to stay long-term with the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n

Plus, reporting on trade suitors for Aaron Gordon and Cam Johnson, along with free agency updates for Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr, and Spencer Jones on @hoopshype<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/Pn1it4v1uc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 28, 2026<\/a>How would Cam Johnson benefit Magic:\"Cameron<\/p>\n

Mar 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson (23) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Johnson, acquired by the Nuggets from the Brooklyn Nets last offseason in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. and a future first-round pick, had an underwhelming season in Denver. He averaged just 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds.<\/p>\n

That said, he did shoot a career-best 48.0 percent from the floor and 43.0 percent from 3-point range, albeit on a career-low 4.7 triple tries per game. He didn’t play very well during the Nuggets’ first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves.<\/p>\n

At his best, he’s a connective 3-and-D wing. Johnson’s a solid rebounder and good team defender. He’s also a good cutter and off-ball mover, where he doesn’t need the ball to provide an impact.<\/p>\n

Johnson, 30, would also provide the Magic some salary relief. He is entering <\/a>the final year of his $95 million contract with a $23.1 million cap hit.<\/p>\n

This is a good buy-low target for Orlando, but financial complications must be accounted for.<\/p>\n

Magic, Nuggets would have to get a third team involved:<\/p>\n

Since the Magic and Nuggets are both above the first apron, neither can 1.) aggregate salary or 2.) take back more than they owed in a single trade.<\/p>\n

Well, there’s is a 1-for-1 match between Johnson and any rostered player on Orlando, so there would have to be a third team to help facilitate a deal. Both teams are also pretty strapped for additional assets to incentivize a third team, making the mountain a little more arduous to climb.<\/p>\n

Deals happen when every side has urgency. Johnson will have a long list of suitors if he’s dealt. But any deal involving the Magic could get quite complicated, which is why a few of the other suitors are more likely options (for now).<\/p>\n

\"\"Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets are in similar positions financially entering the 2026 offseason. After releasing Jonathan…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322783,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":["post-322782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}