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The NBA has largely accomplished what it set out to do. With the implementation of the tax aprons, building long-term, sustainable success has become increasingly difficult. If the league’s goal was to reduce dynasties, mission accomplished. Once the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks finish the 2026 NBA Finals, the league will crown its eighth different champion in eight seasons.
Teams across the NBA are feeling the effects. Front offices are constantly searching for ways to shed salary and navigate the increasingly restrictive rules attached to the tax aprons. Business decisions are being analyzed more than ever, as the wiggle room has tightened.
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The Denver Nuggets, despite winning a championship in 2023, are no exception.
A quick glance at Denver’s 2026-27 cap sheet tells the story. They’re top-heavy, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray alone account for $109.1 million in salary. Add another $32 million for Aaron Gordon, and it’s easy to see why Denver is rumored to be looking for financial flexibility. The Nuggets currently sit $4.8 million over the 2026-27 first apron and only $2.6 million below the second apron.
For a franchise trying to maximize its championship window while a three-time MVP is still in his prime, difficult decisions are unavoidable. And those decisions aren’t going to involve the stars. They’re going to involve the middle class of the roster. One player who stands out is Christian Braun, who enters the first season of a five-year, $125 million extension next year. Yikes. My guess is that if Denver could revisit that negotiation today, it might look a little different.
The other contract that jumps off the page belongs to former Phoenix Suns wing Cameron Johnson. Johnson is set to make $23.1 million next season, accounting for roughly 14% of Denver’s cap sheet. And when a team is searching for ways to create breathing room, those are the kinds of contracts that inevitably enter the conversation.
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We know Cameron Johnson well here in the Valley. He was the unexpected 11th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, a selection that caught plenty of people off…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cam-johnson-trade-rumor-worth-190000719.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-07 19:00:00
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