When you hear something once, it is worth paying attention. When two separate sources are saying the same thing, there is serious cause to listen. There are now multiple NBA insiders confirming that Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson will be readily shopped by the Denver Nuggets.
Tim Bontemps of ESPN highlighted the availability of both Nuggets wings in his insider round-up toward the end of March. Bontemps relayed the message of a "belief around the league" regarding one of the two being moved to make financial room for a Peyton Watson extension.
Now, another well-respected NBA insider, Marc Stein is supporting that expectation. In his recent NBA intel drop, Stein reasserted the notion of either Braun or Johnson having their days in Denver numbered.
"There is a growing belief leaguewide that the Nuggets will explore their potential trade options with Christian Braun as well as Cam Johnson in a bid to create financial flexibility for matching offers to restricted free agent Peyton Watson and perhaps further retooling."
This should be music to the ears of Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers front office.
Lakers could have their pick of Christian Braun or Cameron Johnson
The opportunity to help the Nuggets retain Watson while essentially getting a low-commitment wing upgrade in either Braun or Johnson has stood out as plausible long before there were even rumors about it. Now, there is even more reason to strongly monitor the situation.
What the Lakers hold is a "get out of jail free" card for the Nuggets. If Denver wants to pay up for Watson, Los Angeles has the cap space to take on Braun or Johnson for a low to minimal price.
The underrated part of this is the Lakers, themselves, can throw a big offer sheet at Watson. That should give them added leverage in negotiations around nabbing one of the two other Nuggets wings.
Stein mentioned that Johnson will be viewed as much more movable, given his contract only has one more year left on it. That would make Braun the easier target, if it was not for one added detail offered by the NBA insider. Braun is 'routinely described' as one of Nikola Jokic's favorite teammates.
Whoever the Nuggets ultimately decide is the more worthwhile wing to exile, it should have the Lakers' interest. They need help with those positions, and given their limited assets, this is an excellent way to use their financial freedom without surrendering much else.
That would leave Pelinka with tools at his disposal to continue upgrading elsewhere on the trade market. Alleviating the Nuggets of either Braun or Johnson suddenly becomes an easy and attractive way to improve the wings in Los Angeles without the Lakers overextending their resources.
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