The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the few teams that could help out the Denver Nuggets with their financial issues this summer. Milwaukee has a $25.4 million TPE from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. With that, they could take in Cameron Johnson’s contract, which Denver may want to shed in order to avoid the second apron.
The Nuggets still have yet to re-sign Peyton Watson this summer, as they are pressed right up against the second apron. The Oklahoma City Thunder have also offered Spencer Jones a two-year, $12 million offer sheet. If the Nuggets match, it would put them over the second apron. Shedding some salary should be toward the top of Denver’s to-do list right now.
With free agency money having dried up, TPEs may be Denver’s best chance at doing that. And the Bucks could have a way out available via the Antetokounmpo TPE.
Bucks could take Cameron Johnson into Giannis Antetokounmpo TPE
The Bucks aren’t going anywhere this season. They’re going to be planted firmly in the middle of the pack. They have a solid young core, but not one built to compete in this Eastern Conference.
As a result, they should be looking to add as much draft capital as possible. And in the case of taking on Johnson’s contract, maybe the Nuggets would be willing to send out a second-round pick to get off the money.
Johnson will be on an expiring contract this upcoming season, so the Bucks wouldn’t have to take on any long-term cash. And if the Nuggets wanted to get a deal done before the start of the regular season, the Bucks could even try to flip Johnson at the deadline.
Unfortunately for the Nuggets, it doesn’t make sense for them to do that. They need to shed salary, and at the deadline, almost every team in the league would probably have to send back matching money in a Johnson trade.
But not the Bucks. The Antetokounmpo TPE makes Milwaukee one of just four teams around the league with a TPE big enough to fully absorb Johnson’s money.
The others are the Hornets (potential trade candidate), the Memphis Grizzlies (probably don’t want Johnson), and the Boston Celtics (aren’t really looking to add money right now).
If the Nuggets were to throw in a second-round pick or two, the Bucks should definitely consider taking on Johnson’s money in a trade. It would help them avoid the relegation zone next year, too.
Denver would be in a better position to retain one of Watson or Jones, and the Bucks would land a solid veteran 3-and-D guy on an expiring deal.
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