Several months after ending their failed experiment with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets are looking to surprise people with the start of the 2023-24 NBA regular season on the horizon.
They have several potent and intriguing young players, including 6-foot-10 guard/forward Ben Simmons, 3-and-D wing Mikal Bridges and guard Spencer Dinwiddie.
Another viable player Brooklyn has is forward Cam Johnson, who arrived in last season’s Durant trade. Johnson hasn’t played in the exhibition season yet due to a hamstring issue, and according to head coach Jacque Vaughn, he may not play at all until the regular season begins.
“Cam Johnson. That’s the last piece,” Vaughn said after a public practice on Saturday. “I think at some point he’s really progressing. Maybe he joins practice at some point this week. Not sure about the game situation. I’m going to be extremely cautious. I’d rather have him available that first [regular-season] game versus Cleveland [on Oct. 25], then to try to speed him along and play him in a preseason game.
“But [he’s had] no setbacks, which is good, and heading in the right direction.”
NBA INJURY NEWS: Cam Johnson & Brooklyn Nets Updates
While with the Phoenix Suns prior to the Durant real, Johnson was developing into a very capable depth player and a good 3-point shooter. He averaged 13.9 points a game in 17 games with Phoenix last season, and after the trade, he stepped up with 16.6 points a contest with the Nets.
The Nets may not be a very good team this season, but they should have at least a shot at the play-in tournament if they’re relatively healthy. They have a young and hungry roster that should be able to get out and run while also pressuring opponents on the defensive end.
The X-factor will likely be the enigmatic Simmons. He has played in only 42 games since being traded to Brooklyn midway through the 2021-22 campaign in the James Harden trade, and last season, he put up career lows in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.
NBA INJURY NEWS: Cam Johnson & Brooklyn Nets Updates
His 6.9 points a game last year was less than half of his previous low mark in that department, which came in the 2020-21 season when he was at 14.3 points per contest.
In addition to his ability to create fast-break opportunities and hit the open man, Simmons is also an elite defender, which is very valuable to a young Nets team.
