If the Brooklyn Nets are serious about getting real value for Cam Johnson, they can not just sit back and hope the right offer shows up. They need to create the market themselves. And the smartest way to do that?
Bring the San Antonio Spurs into the conversation.
Cam Johnson is not just any throw-in piece. He is a winning player. He is someone who is efficient, versatile, and coming off a career year. Nearly 19 points per game, all while shooting close to 50/40/90 splits. Johnson is the kind of floor-spacer every contender wants. He is not flashy, but he does not need to be because he is consistent. That is something that is gold in today’s league.
But holding firm back in February only works if you make it count in the summer. That is why getting San Antonio involved is so important. The Spurs are sitting on a pile of draft picks and just added another foundational piece in Stephon Castle to pair with Victor Wembanyama. They are not going to develop every rookie they draft, that is not how the league works. At some point, they need guys who are ready to play and help Wemby win now. Johnson checks every box: he’s low-maintenance, high-IQ, and a deadeye shooter.
For the Nets, bringing the Spurs into the mix accomplishes two things:
One, it introduces a buyer with some real serious assets, which include lottery picks now and premium firsts down the line. Two, it forces other teams to get serious. If San Antonio shows real interest, other front offices will start to feel the pressure.
Even if Johnson does not end up in San Antonio, just getting them involved raises the bar. It has been made clear that this Brooklyn is not desperate. They are a patient team. But that being said, patience only works if you control the narrative, and that means creating competition.
Johnson may not be the biggest headliner available, but his value is real. The Nets know it. They showed it at the deadline. Now it is time to make that decision pay off by putting themselves in a position of strength. Brooklyn please do not just keep sitting around and wait. Get the Spurs involved. Make teams uncomfortable. And get something that reflects Cam Johnson’s true worth.