The window to trade Cam Johnson is wide open. And it won’t stay that way for long. The NBA offseasons move fast, and if the Brooklyn Nets are paying attention, they should know this is the moment to act. They should not wait to do so in a week or after free agency dries up, they need to act right now.
Johnson just had a career year, averaging 18.8 points per game and proving, once again, that he is one of the league’s cleanest fits on any playoff roster. He is a knockdown shooter, a long defender, and he does not need the ball to make an impact. He is 6'8", smart, efficient, and still in the midst of his prime.
Brooklyn is currently sitting pretty when it comes to having draft capital in the upcoming 2025 draft. At the moment of writing this they have four first-round picks in the draft including a lottery pick at slot number 8. Unfortunately for them, to tell you the truth they are not one move away from contending. In fact they are still near the start of a longer game. And Cam Johnson, for all his value, does not fit the timeline.
Cam Johnson could be the missing piece for a lot of teams out there
Look around the league. Teams are throwing first-round picks like there is no tomorrow for plug-and-play wings. Need proof? Look no further than the Grizzlies and Magic trade that just happened a few days ago. Memphis got a haul for Desmond Bane, because Orlando decided to give up four first round unprotected picks and a couple young guys just to get scoring on the wing. Johnson may not have Bane’s ceiling, but his value on the floor? Well that is considered to be in the same neighborhood.
Brooklyn has something most teams do not, which is a ton of cap space. That is leverage in the purest form. It means the Nets can trade Johnson, collect assets, and still be the last team standing with money when everyone else runs out. That is exactly how you buy low, flip later, and control the board.
This is not about bailing on Cam Johnson
This trade idea is about selling high, playing the market, and positioning the Nets to win the long game. Wait too long, and other teams will fill their needs. Wait too long, and Johnson becomes a nice-to-have player instead of a must-get kind of guy. The Nets already know what Johnson is. The league does, too. That is what makes this the moment to move. Before the calls stop coming and before the market resets.