The Brooklyn Nets are firmly in their rebuild era. After a few years in the sun, including adding the trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, the team is back to mediocrity. They were struggling over the last 2 seasons, and eventually took the plunge. As a result, the team now has a rebuild to look forward to, one that GM Sean Marks believes will be short and effective.
The first, and perhaps biggest, domino to fall was Mikal Bridges. Coming in from the Phoenix Suns, Bridges became a bonafide first option. Consistently averaging 20 ppg, his ascension led the way to a mind-numbing 6 first-round picks haul from the New York Knicks. Additionally, most of the picks the Nets sent out came back to them, giving them the incentive to embrace the rebuild.
However, the team still has a variety of veterans on the roster. Whether it is Dennis Schroeder at the guard slot, or 3-and-D wings, the team has still assets to trade. Among them, one name constantly making the trading circles is that of Cam Johnson.
The Cam Johnson trade market
Cam Johnson was another player that Brooklyn got in the Kevin Durant trade. While Bridges took off offensively, Johnson has been in relatively the same role. However, that role continues to be among the most sought-after in the whole league. As a legit sniper with some defensive chops, Cameron can slot in to almost every lineup seamlessly. And, the interest for the wiry wing is obvious.
So far, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and the Orlando Magic have been in the trade hunt for Cam. But, out of those, two teams have already made significant moves. For the Magic, it was acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a contract almost identical to the three years and $68.8 million Johnson has on his deal. For the Kings, they went even higher with their spending. Rather than settle for a role player, they went after a genuine star in DeMar DeRozan to power up an already elite offense.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets Updates
However, the interest in Cameron hasn’t been stagnant. Rather, as reports suggest, teams like the Golden State Warriors, the Toronto Raptors, and the San Antonio Spurs are also entering the sweepstakes. Given his current contract and ability, Johnson is a name that will continue to garner interest on the trade market.
Despite just 4 years in the league, at 28, Cam doesn’t fit the current Brooklyn timeline. But, for a contender, the carrier 39% shooter from distance is invaluable. Since his 6MOTY contention days in 2021-22, his production hass been in the low to mid teens as he remains a consistent scoring option.
The one asterisk that could hurt the Brooklyn Nets
By all accounts, a trade for Cam Johnson seems like a no-brainer for most teams. 6-foot-8, consistently excellent shooter, decent defender, can serve as starter or bench piece. All-in-all, the 5-year veteran is the complete package. As a result, the trade package could net Brooklyn a significant haul. After the legendary return for Mikal Bridges, one that had Marks confident in a swift rebuild, the team could be looking at another large-scale return.
But, over the last 2 seasons, one worrying trend has come about. After just 42 games spread between Phoenix and the Nets, Johnson was once again an injury concern last season. While his role saw a major increment, starting 47 out of 58 games, the total games played remaining at 58 might make some teams squint. In today’s league, with talent and parity at an all-time high, availability remains the best ability.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The only real damper to the Cam Johnson trade could be the injury concern. Beyond that, the move looks like a no-brainer for both the Nets and any potential suitor.
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