Nuggets trade pitch sends Nikola Jokic’s 3-point shooter to Lakers for Luka Doncic help originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Reports have begun to indicate that the Denver Nuggets are looking to move on from some of their top players, though it doesn’t really make much sense.
Unfortunately, the Nuggets seem to be taking the cheap way out, even though they have the opportunity to pay some of the current guys on the roster they want to keep around in the long term. It’s unfortunate that Denver is going to take this approach, if it does, as it has Nikola Jokic and a clear opportunity to win an NBA Finals once again if it makes the right moves.
However, other teams can’t worry about that too much and can only look to get better if the Nuggets are willing to move on from their guys. One of those teams will be the Los Angeles Lakers, as Cameron Johnson could be a very nice fit on their roster despite a rough year with the Nuggets in his first season in the Mile High City.
In a recent trade proposal, the Lakers would accomplish just that.
Nuggets receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, 2033 second-round pick
Lakers receive: Cameron Johnson
“The Lakers have some salary cap to work with this offseason, depending on what they do with Austin Reaves and LeBron James, so taking on a more expensive expiring contract to boost their immediate championship chances could be their best move.
“Johnson would be an ideal player to have next to Doncic. The 6-foot-8 forward shot an impressive 43% from three-point range for the Nuggets this season, and could be the perfect floor spacer to have in Los Angeles’ starting lineup,” Logan Struck wrote.
If the Lakers only have to move on from a second-round pick, LaRavia, and Vanderbilt, this feels like a trade that’s too good to pass up on. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that Rob Pelinka would make this trade in a heartbeat.
While Johnson didn’t play too well last year, I’d bet on his fit and talent in the long term for this Los Angeles organization.
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- Latest report considered ‘unfortunate’ news for Lakers, Luka Doncic
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