Report: Brooklyn Nets don’t feel pressure to trade Cam Johnson

Report: Brooklyn Nets don’t feel pressure to trade Cam Johnson

Entering Thursday, exactly three weeks from the Feb. 6 trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets have been involved in two of the four trades leaguewide. In mid-December, they traded Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors for De’Anthony and three second-rounders; in late December, they followed suit by trading Dorian Finney-Smith to the Lakers for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three more second-rounders.

They likely aren’t done, either. But they aren’t feeling the pressure, especially when it comes to trading forward Cam Johnson, their best available player, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.

“I think they’re going to be pragmatic and methodical about it,” Fischer said recently on the Bad Weather Fans podcast. “I think there is still value in keeping a Cam Johnson on your team both for him to potentially be someone will want to play with or he could be a blue chipper–not blue-chipper but a main piece who’s going back in a trade for someone.

“I think they will move him if they get two firsts and stuff which is what the word around the league is what their benchmark for him. So, if they can get something like that, I think they would do it. But if they don’t, I think if there’s just a good first round pick on the table, I don’t think they’re going to trade him. I think they’re going to be like ‘Wow, we can’t say no to this deal because of the future optionality that he still would bring.’”

Johnson, 28, does have two more years left on his deal beyond this season for $20.5 million and $22.5 million, which will become more team-friendly as time goes on with the cap projected to increase roughly 10 percent in each season. He’s developed into a quality wing, averaging 19.6 points and 4.2 rebounds on 49.9 percent shooting and 42.8 percent from 3-point range.

Keeping him could prevent them from not being in top-5 pick territory, but the 2025 NBA Draft should still be plenty talented outside of Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper at the top.

On a contender, he obviously wouldn’t be thrust into a primary role like he has in Phoenix. But he’s shown he’s capable of positively impacting the game when he was growing in Phoenix alongside Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton.

Given his contract and production, a bidding war could result in a team trading multiple firsts plus more for him. Not every first-round pick is created equally, however. Plus, at least you would be able to guarantee two extra years. Nevertheless, that would be an expensive price for the 28-year-old unless you’re a contender and you have enough draft capital elsewhere to compensate for it (i.e. Oklahoma City).

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