The Denver Nuggets don’t need another superstar. They already have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. What they need is more consistent support. They need guys who can survive the brutal reality of modern playoff basketball when Jokic isn’t on the floor. As brilliant as Jokic remains, no player can carry a roster through four playoff rounds without a capable supporting cast. That’s why the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft presents a critical opportunity. Rather than standing pat at No. 26, the Nuggets should aggressively pursue a trade up the board. If Denver wants to maximize the remaining prime years of its three-time MVP, the time for caution has passed.
Familiar weaknesses
The Nuggets entered the 2025-26 campaign looking every bit like a contender. Under head coach David Adelman, Denver finished with the league’s top-rated offense and secured the third seed in a loaded Western Conference. Jokic once again orchestrated one of basketball’s most efficient attacks. Meanwhile, Denver’s starting unit consistently overwhelmed opponents with elite ball movement, spacing, and execution.
For long stretches, the Nuggets looked capable of making another deep postseason run. Then the playoffs arrived. The Minnesota Timberwolves systematically exposed Denver’s biggest flaw during a physical six-game first-round victory. Whenever Jokic sat, the Nuggets struggled to generate reliable offense, protect the rim, or control the glass. Minnesota’s size and athleticism relentlessly targeted Denver’s thin frontcourt depth. That forced Jokic to shoulder an unsustainable workload.
The result was a frustrating early exit. More importantly, it highlighted exactly what Denver must address this summer. Now, the Nuggets clearly need athletic frontcourt reinforcements.
Why Denver should trade up
Holding the No. 26 overall pick puts Denver in an uncomfortable position. Sure, quality prospects can certainly be found late in the first round. However, championship contenders rarely have the luxury of waiting years for development. Denver’s timeline revolves around maximizing Jokic’s prime, not patiently nurturing long-term projects.
The ideal strategy would involve packaging veteran forward Cam Johnson alongside the No. 26 selection in an effort to climb into the top 20. Such a move accomplishes multiple objectives simultaneously.
First, moving Johnson’s salary would provide meaningful relief from the luxury-tax and second-apron restrictions. Second, it would allow Denver access to a higher tier of prospects. Most importantly, it would position the Nuggets to target a player whose skill set directly addresses their playoff shortcomings.
Defensive versatility changes everything
Johnson’s appeal begins with physical tools that simply cannot be taught. Armed with a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan, elite mobility, and relentless energy, he projects as the kind of modern defensive big man every contender covets. His ability to protect the rim and impact possessions without needing touches makes him an ideal fit alongside Denver’s established core.
What Denver needs is a frontcourt defender capable of covering ground, contesting shots, and injecting athleticism into second-unit lineups. Johnson checks all of those boxes. Perhaps more importantly, he would help solve one of Denver’s most persistent problems: surviving the non-Jokic minutes.
When Minnesota overwhelmed Denver’s bench units in the playoffs, the absence of a mobile interior defender became impossible to ignore. Johnson’s presence would immediately give Adelman more flexibility with lineup combinations. It would also reduce the defensive burden placed on Jokic throughout the regular season.
Matching the future of the NBA
Recent postseason results have revealed where the NBA is heading. The New York Knicks captured the championship behind relentless physicality, elite wing depth, and defensive versatility. The San Antonio Spurs reached the Finals with a roster built around length, athleticism, and interchangeable defenders. Both teams presented problems Denver struggled to match.
The Nuggets remain elite offensively. However, the league’s newest contenders have embraced size and flexibility at nearly every position. To keep pace, Denver must evolve. Adding Johnson would represent a significant step in that direction.
His athletic profile gives the Nuggets a player capable of impacting games without requiring offensive touches. He can rebound, protect the basket, defend in space, and create transition opportunities through sheer effort. Those are precisely the complementary skills championship teams need around a superstar.
Sustainability matters
There will inevitably be calls for Denver to pursue established veterans. That’s understandable. Veterans offer certainty. That said, the Nuggets also need sustainability. Jokic is still performing at an MVP level, yet Denver must begin building a supporting cast capable of extending its championship window beyond the next season or two.
Trading up for a player like Morez Johnson Jr accomplishes that. He can contribute immediately while still possessing significant developmental upside. Unlike a short-term veteran rental, Johnson could grow into a foundational rotation piece capable of helping Denver for years. That’s exactly the type of asset contenders should prioritize.
Present and future
The Nuggets need is a calculated adjustment that addresses the weaknesses exposed by Minnesota while preserving the strengths that made them one of the league’s most dangerous teams. Trading Cameron Johnson and the No. 26 pick to move into the top 20 for Morez Johnson Jr accomplishes exactly that.
It improves Denver’s athleticism, strengthens the defense, and eases the financial burden. And most importantly, it gives Nikola Jokic the type of frontcourt support necessary to keep Denver firmly in the championship conversation. For Denver, that is a gamble worth making.
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