The Dallas Mavericks are expected to be in the market for shooting help, and Denver forward Cam Johnson has emerged as a name to watch. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, rival teams view Johnson as the Nuggets’ most likely trade candidate, and Dallas is among the teams believed to have interest.
Johnson is in the final season of his deal, which carries a $23 million salary for 2026-27. That contract structure makes him a logical trade target for teams trying to add a high-level role player without a long-term commitment.
For Dallas, the fit is obvious. The Mavericks finished 26-56 last season and ranked 12th in the Western Conference, but they still have a clear centerpiece in Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a rookie. Surrounding him with reliable shooting is one of the franchise’s most urgent roster tasks.
Johnson would help in that area immediately. In 54 games with Denver last season, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 48.0% from the field and 43.0% from three-point range. He attempted 4.7 threes per game and posted a 59.6% effective field goal percentage, production that would give Dallas another proven floor spacer on the wing.
The Mavericks already leaned on perimeter shooting from several rotation players. Max Christie shot 40.4% from three and Klay Thompson hit 38.3% from deep in 69 games, while P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall gave the team frontcourt versatility. Johnson would add another scorer who can play next to Flagg without needing the ball in his hands.
Dallas also has an offseason identity shift underway. Dusty May was hired as the franchise’s new head coach, and the organization is expected to keep emphasizing development while trying to accelerate its timeline around Flagg. Adding a veteran wing with Johnson’s skill set would fit that approach better than another high-usage creator.
Denver’s situation makes the forward available enough to attract attention. Johnson was acquired last summer in the trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. away, and league rivals now believe he is the most likely player to move from the Nuggets’ roster.
