It's starting to look like the Nets won't make what many considered the most likely deal of this NBA trade season – or maybe that's exactly what Brooklyn wants the narrative to read.
Rumors continue to pour out about the Nets potentially keeping forward Cam Johnson. With focus shifting heavily to the Jimmy Butler and De'Aaron Fox media storms, Johnson buzz around the league has started to die. Many suitors have stepped back due to Brooklyn's widely-reported ask of multiple first-round picks, expiring contracts and/or young talent.
Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson recently furthered claims the Nets would prefer to keep Johnson, mentioning two teams potentially with enough interest to change that: the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs.
Cam Johnson info: Brooklyn wants a lot in return.
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) January 30, 2025
On the Brooklyn side I'm told: they'd prefer to keep him. However with all talks, these things are fluid.
Separately: The two teams that I've heard that have legitimate interest are Memphis Grizzlies & San Antonio Spurs. https://t.co/TlkQz0vJJp
Let's entertain a multiverse theory for a second. There's a world where Johnson gets traded this summer or sometime next season. A universe also exists where he doesn't get traded at all... and then there’s a reality where both of those would be massive mistakes for Nets World (which we very well might be living in it).
Johnson's value will likely never be higher, averaging a career-best 19.4 points in a breakout, sharpshooting season for the Nets. General manager Sean Marks making lofty demands that the market isn't willing to meet could ultimately cost Brooklyn if the general consensus on his positioning is true. Letting injuries or a decrease in his production impact a potential haul might be a devastating blow to what the franchise could accomplish with those resources otherwise.
The only real benefit to keeping Johnson would be maintaining the flexibility to include him a package with significant draft assets for a superstar later down the road, which even then that might not be the best route to such an acquisition.
Many teams linked to Johnson at some point throughout the month – like Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Memphis – aren't exactly in desperate need of help looking at the standings. Indiana has enough momentum to be thrown in that category as well. With Sacramento recently leaving its Johnson pursuit behind, given both Marks' demands and its own trade saga unexpectedly surfacing, Brooklyn's pathway to a deal has become increasingly difficult.
San Antonio entering the mix, if true, is a somewhat surprising development paired with Fox’s alleged desire to join the Spurs, though. Nonetheless, prioritizing draft status should mean prioritizing Johnson isn't on the floor for the Nets again this season.