The Brooklyn Nets' trajectory shifted after they traded Mikal Bridges to their crosstown rival over the summer. They acquired a haul of first-round picks to ignite their rebuild. The front office has already made a couple of midseason trades, sending Dennis Schroder to the Warriors, and Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Lakers.
Rival front offices are now waiting to see what Brooklyn does with Cam Johnson. The forward has drawn interest from several contenders, including the Thunder and Cavaliers. He's having the best season of his career, averaging 19.4 points per game on 49/42/89 shooting splits.
The Nets aren't willing to part with Johnson for cheap. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that the team wants more than a first-round pick for him. He reported on Thursday that the Kings, one of Johnson's top trade suitors, don't want to lose rookie Devin Carter in a deal. Sacramento is also on a hot streak, winning 10 of its last 12 games.
Teams like the Kings might not only be hesitant to pay a high price for him but don't want to alter their chemistry with a midseason trade. The same goes for the Pacers, who have turned their season around and have a handful of promising young players.
Nets could keep Cam Johnson past the Feb. 6 trade deadline
Scotto reiterated that Brooklyn "highly values" Johnson, even though the team is in rebuilding mode. He's on a good contract, especially given his production. He's making $22.5 million this season and will make $43 million over the next two seasons. It won't hurt the Nets financially to keep him on the roster.
A team like Sacramento or Oklahoma City may make Brooklyn an offer it can't refuse for Johnson before the deadline. Trade talks will ramp up as the deadline nears, but don't be surprised if the forward stays in New York, at least for the rest of the season. The Nets have the luxury of waiting for what they want, which is first-round picks to add to their collection.
Johnson has been vocal about his love for Brooklyn. He hasn't indicated that he wants to leave the Nets. He's focused on being the best player he can be and helping his team by any means necessary. Hopefully, the ankle injury he's currently dealing with doesn't keep him sidelined for long.
There hasn't been much for Brooklyn fans to be excited about this season, and watching Johnson play has been fun. Whether he's traded or not, his dedication to the Nets will always be appreciated by fans.