After Memphis received a blockbuster haul of future draft assets from Orlando in its Desmond Bane trade, Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscriber link) considers how that could impact the Nets‘ return in a potential Cameron Johnson trade.
Johnson, 29, is a solid two-way player – if never an All-Star – and remains in his athletic prime. The 6’8″ forward, who established himself as a starter on a talented Suns team before being dealt to Brooklyn, averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest in 57 healthy games for the Nets this past season. He posted a shooting line of .475/.390/.893.
As Lewis writes, Johnson isn’t the passer or rebounder that Bane is, and he’s three years older than the Magic’s latest addition. However, they posted similar scoring and shooting numbers this past season, and Johnson’s current contract is more team-friendly than Bane’s — the Nets forward is owed $44MM over the next two seasons, while Bane will make $163MM across the next four years.
NBA sources have repeatedly informed Lewis that they expect the 2025 offseason to be incredibly active, and that they anticipate Brooklyn will be heavily involved in trade activity.
There’s more out of Brooklyn:
- Although Lewis tweets that he anticipates the Nets will explore ditching veteran salaries and getting involved in three-team trades, he has been informed that Brooklyn is also being floated in conversations about deals that the team has nothing to do with. According to Lewis, this is “predictable gamesmanship” in the offseason, and the Nets make for an easy subject of speculation due to their significant cap room.
- The Nets’ name has been thrown around in the trade rumor mill so often, C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News opted to take stock. Holmes believes it’s quite possible Brooklyn gets involved as a third team to help facilitate a Kevin Durant trade out of Phoenix, but he’s skeptical the Nets will achieve their “Plan A” of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee.
- Although Rutgers wing Ace Bailey initially seemed to be out of reach for the Nets at the No. 8 pick, his recent refusal to work out for anyone seems to presage a drop in this year’s draft. Net Income of Nets Daily wonders if Brooklyn would trade up to nab the 18-year-old if he falls out of the top three picks — but perhaps not out of the top five.
Nets do not have to trade Cam Johnson.
Which is why if they do trade him it will be for a great return. Also why he didn’t get traded at the deadline, the offers weren’t enough to justify the move.
If someone was willing to give up 2 FRPs for him as they wanted all season he would have been dealt already.
Of course they do. You can’t play with two starting power forwards and Giannis doesn’t want to play center.
Claxton is 25. Johnson is 28. They can get good value for both. Claxton being younger is one they can keep. There is no rush to move Johnson. Nets have 5 solid picks this year. A guy like Queen would work well with Claxton. But you can’t pass on Maluach. Nets don’t need to rush this. They can trade up for a second lottery pick. Can also trade for Kuminga. Nets are in a good place. They can go easy. See what happens ahead of them on draft night. And go from there. I know Spurs liked Cam Johnson. I would definitely do some kind of trade for 2nd pick there. Getting Harper and Maluach would be major ….. draft night will be fun
Aristotle SMH…Do feel better, lol.
Johnson for the second pick? 😂
Some glaring errors in this article about Cam Johnson, consistent with the inference that Johnson is somehow close to being an All-Star.
> Johnson has already proven that he can be a starter
> on a great team, as he fulfilled that role on the NBA
> Finals-bound 2021 Suns.
False. Johnson was never a starter on the Suns 2020-21 team, he started 0 games in the playoffs. He was a back-up PF to Jae Crowder that year. He was unplayable through the Finals that year.
The comparison with Desmond Bane is far-fetched. Bane’s salary is 2x Johnson’s for good reason. Bane was traded for 4 unprotected FRP’s and 2 rotation players. Johnson won’t fetch more than 1 FRP and a rotation player.
Johnson is 29 years old, with a career average of 12.9 ppg. Bane is 26, and has averaged 21 ppg in his 4 years as a starter. Johnson shoots 39% from deep, Bane 41%. Bane is a 3-level scorer, Johnson is not.
I definitely agree with a lot of what you’re saying but I think there is a limited amount of wings/forwards that are good 3 and D players but not all star level or potential franchise cornerstones.
Every team needs players with his skillset and ability and what makes it even more attractive is he isn’t massively overpaid.
Guys like Trey Murphy, Brandon Miller etc are probably better, younger and teams aren’t giving them up.
Cam if you compare his pay to his pairs at his position it’s Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Rui Hachimura and he’s clearly better than them so by that measure he has good value.
You’re correct tho he was a 6th man on that side, he was drafted older and because he hasn’t been around for ages he seems younger than his age. Plus he’s only shown himself as a starter on a terrible side in Brooklyn and he hasn’t even been amazing.
Bane has played great with and without Ja, on sides that contend and make the playoffs regularly. He is a shooter and scorer but has developed a handle and playmaking ability.
He’s a borderline all star and now he’s in the east he will probably earn that honour.
Yeah, the point is that he’s looked at now as the potential missing or critical piece for a bunch of playoff teams because he can do multiple things well, particularly shoot the 3, has size, is right in his prime, and has a contract that can work for a bunch of those teams.
He’s also a team leader, and as one who believes that the Nets aren’t far from getting back into the playoff pix, there is a need for a veteran team leader in Bklyn as well… and so to me, he’s also an extension candidate.
So any proposal to ship CJ off has to really make sense… not to mention that he would also be highly coveted at the next trade deadline.. so I’m not worried about it.
Good point about Johnson and the 2021 Suns, I’ve updated that section.
It’s a little sad seeing all the people unable to even comprehend the idea of a team overpaying for the one player in the NBA that perfectly fits their need.
The idea that every team now thinks they have a player who they can trade for the same package is incomprehensibly stupid.
Even worse is the 40 mil in bad contracts they took on in exchange. That’s 10 mil per 1st round pick before you even get to the player you view as the final piece.
Economics is a lost discipline.
Ace knows what team he’s going to be drafted by.
Based on the breakpoints of talent in this draft, BKN really doesn’t need to trade up from #8 (and should do so only if the cost is modest). They should focus on trading up from #19 to the late lottery to get a 2nd potential foundation piece out of this draft.
Then, be greedy on a any proposed Johnson or Claxton deals (they don’t need to trade either right away, or maybe at all), and stingy on selling their cap space (with so many suitors, they should let them fight it out).
Well said.
☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️
aristotle you try so hard. First try a search and get the facts. Have some dignity lol …
link to basketball-reference.com
according to basketball reference. He started. >>>>
16 gms in 2022-23 for Suns … he started 25 gms first Nets. After trade.
2021-22 he started. 16 gms for Suns ….
2020-21 he started. 11 gms for Suns …..
2019-20 he started 9 gms his rookie year.
What is really important is the mins he played. And the mins he played in the playoffs. Dude when will you learn to research before posting. This is why you can’t be taken serious. You don’t care enough to be right. Only way you can make a real point. By researching your facts first. Some of us care so much about what we say. That we do that religiously. Bane and Cam play different positions. Worth is in the eye of the team that needs him. Bane is more valuable I agree. But Cam since starting for Nets has avg .. (3pt) 392%, FT 86%, FG 463%,
30 mins a gm, 3.7 ast, 4.4 reb, 16.1 pts, on ….
5.5/12 FG attempts. Those are very good numbers. Considering he is a solid team player. A very good two way player. And a willing passer. He is an excellent fit on certain teams. He’s not as good as OG. But has similar game. He is worth the same to a few teams as Bane. The man can ball. And is a good teammate and scorer IQ player. He’d be a great addition for some team. He is in his prime. And has a reasonable contract. You will see when Nets move him …. How good he is. Imo he can be a better offensive player than OG ….
link to basketball-reference.com
Al the man shot 43% from deep in the finals. Apparently thats poor. That was with a poor showing of 1 from 4 at 25% in one of those games. He’s obviously closer to his prime too. This guy could seriously help someone and his contract isn’t bad at all. Is Aristotle trying to get a writing gig on here? Sure does pick some of the writers works big time.
Do it on his last year in Phoenix and 2 1/2 yrs in Bklyn. Hes a legit 2way player.
Yeah the man likes to spout stories. He might have watched him once. And read an article. So now he’s an expert. Just don’t get how you can be critical. Without knowing what you are saying. Easy to search info today. Just tells you he don’t care lol. I know Spurs liked him. If they can’t get Giannis. They might turn to Nets lol …..
Al, you played yourself.
The article is talking about 2020-21:
“The veteran forward has already proven that he can be a starter on a great team, as he fulfilled that role on the NBA Finals-bound 2021 Suns.”
Can Hohnson was not the starter for Phoenix. Joe Crowder was.
I just gave you the search lol. You bother to look.
I don’t play with myself lol.
Johnson stats with Nets are formidable lol. But if you watch him play. Like I do cause I watch Nets gms. You would see a solid 2way SF with size. Who is a team player. And a good teammate IQ player. Bane is better today. I give you that. But he is not much better depending on team fit. You rather bash a player. Just to act like you know something. And lie to do it. That is a non gm. You get that. Respect the game man
Al, Icheck out Luke Adams’ comment.