Now that Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith have found new homes on the trade market, all focus (and speculation) turns to the Nets’ 28-year-old standout forward.
Cameron Johnson, averaging a career-high 19.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists on 49.1 percent shooting from the field and 43.2 percent from deep, continues to understandably strike the interest of executives across the NBA. With trade season approaching its peak, Brooklyn’s prepared to sell more than any other franchise. Plenty of buyers are looking to pounce, too.
In his third season with the Nets, Johnson also currently leads the NBA in effective field goal percentage among players averaging at least 12 field goal attempts and five three-point attempts per game. It has been widely and consistently rumored that the Nets hope to haul in multiple first-round picks for the former UNC Tar Heel.
Given his recent play and team-friendly contract stretching through 2026-27 at $65.54 million, that may actually be possible for a Brooklyn front office already in possession of 15 first-round picks over the next seven drafts. The Oklahoma City Thunder has particularly been linked to a pursuit of Johnson, with rumors surfacing at the G League Showcase, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Story: The latest trade intel on De’Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, Cam Johnson, and D’Angelo Russell. Plus, what’s next for the Lakers, Warriors, Nets, Thunder, Grizzlies, Pistons, Pelicans, Raptors, Clippers, and more on @hoopshype. https://t.co/O0YpHmmrkS
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 31, 2024
“Should Oklahoma City ultimately pursue a Johnson trade with Brooklyn, keep an eye on January 15 when Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe are each eligible to be traded,” Scotto wrote. “The Thunder has a boatload of future first-round draft picks available to dangle along with tradeable salaries such as Kenrich Williams – our top trade candidate coming into the season – Ousmane Dieng, and Jaylin Williams.”
Scotto also suggests the Sacramento Kings as a potential landing spot, an organization that may desperately scramble to somehow make amends in what’s quickly becoming a dumpster fire of a season between their recent coaching debacle and franchise star being publicly displeased.
“Sticking in the West, the Sacramento Kings have consistently expressed interest in trading for Johnson,” Scotto added. “Having fired coach Mike Brown, the DeMar DeRozan experiment not working as expected with the Kings underwhelming this season, and worrying about De’Aaron Fox’s happiness after he passed on a contract extension, the Kings are being monitored by teams around the league to see if they’ll make a panic trade to try and save the season.”
Unless the Nets outprice themselves and decide to retain Johnson through the remainder of this season, it’s become painfully obvious who will be next to find their way out of Brooklyn.