Celtics should take advantage of Nuggets' looming offseason predicament

The Boston Celtics were already among the best NBA teams before Jayson Tatum's return, and with him back, they are rounding out into becoming an all-out freight train. With their playoff rotation rounding into form, Boston looks like an unstoppable force.

But that doesn't mean if there's a chance to become even harder to beat, they should pass on it. As awesome as this group has been, no one should take issue with getting an upgrade. Now, Boston has the chance to do that this coming offseason.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto revealed that the Denver Nuggets may look to trade Cameron Johnson this summer following the emergence of Peyton Watson. Watson's about to become a restricted free agent this summer, and if Denver plans to penny pinch, Johnson might be on the block.

Johnson has been somewhat of a disappoint with Denver this season, but with his history, one could argue what's happened is simply a rough patch. Besides, his value could be just low enough for the Celtics to get him on a discount.

How the Celtics could pry Johnson from Denver

For the record, the Celtics could absorb Johnson's $23 million contract using the Anfernee Simons $27.7 million TPE, but it's likely that they won't knowing the financial ramifications that would be sure to come.

However, that doesn't mean a deal can't be struck between the two sides. Boston is under the tax and would likely prefer it to be that way, so one way in which they can make a deal for Johnson is if they agree to the following swap:

Celtics receive: Johnson

Nuggets receive: Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh

It would be hard to part ways with Hauser, as he's become one of the Celtics' best development stories over the past four years. Nor would it be easy to trade Walsh, as his evolution this season helped mitigate Tatum's prolonged absence.

But it's Cameron Johnson. He's been one of the league's premier 3&D wings for several years now, who isn't too bad at creating his own shot, and who also played an instrumental role in how the Phoenix Suns made the 2021 NBA Finals. Imagine pairing him next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the starting lineup.

Know how Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, and pretty much everyone else on the Celtics' roster benefits massively from playing next to the Jays because of their scoring gravity? Well, imagine someone like Johnson playing next to them?

A detractor may say that playing next to Nikola Jokic hasn't helped much, but even in what's been an injury-riddled and down season for Johnson, he's still shooting over 42% from distance.

If Boston has the chance to get someone who could make even more impossible to beat, they should take it. Acquiring Johnson fits that bill, even if he hasn't panned out as well as the Nuggets could have hoped.

Brad Stevens has never let sentiment dictate his decisions

Again, trading Hauser and Walsh would be difficult because of how well they have endeared themselves to Celtics fans. They are quality players who Boston shouldn't just drop for obvious reasons. However, getting an upgrade requires getting rid of something you like, so a trade for Johnson fits that bill.

Stevens hasn't let fan attachment get in the way of his decisions. Celtics fans hated him for trading Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis, but it was immediately pretty clear he made the right move. They were also heartbroken to see Robert Williams III get moved, but Jrue Holiday proved pretty quickly why Stevens chose right there, too.

Johnson can do the same. No one would (nor should) have a problem if Hauser and Walsh stay, but Johnson ups both the Celtics' ceiling and floor more than they would. Sentimentality hasn't deterred Stevens from making the right decision, and if Johnson really is available, it shouldn't start now.