The Brooklyn Nets are at a pivotal point in their rebuild, and with the offseason trade rumors heating up, one name continues to swirl through the rumor mill: Cam Johnson. And yes while trading him is certainly on the table, if the Nets are smart, they should look to steer clear of one dangerous suitor, the Sacramento Kings
The Nets should not even consider moving Johnson unless the return is real. Right now, the Kings do not even have that much to offer. A deal would likely require Brooklyn to take on someone like DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine, two older players who do not fit at all where this team is headed. That is not the kind of trade the Nets should be making. They are not in win-now mode. They are trying to build something sustainable. Taking on contracts like that would only slow things down.
The front office already passed on moving Johnson at the trade deadline this past regular season. That was the right call, because they were not offered a proper deal and his value has only gone up since then. If you need any indication, look no further then the trade between the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies. In order for the Magic to secure Desmond Bane they had to part ways with four of their unprotected first-rounders including some young talent. I am not saying Johnson is worth that much, but I think it is clear to say that the bar has officially been raised for what young, productive wings are worth.
While Bane may bring a bit more two-way juice, his numbers of 19.2 points per game while shooting 39.2% from three , are pretty close to the Nets sharpshooter. Johnson is not just a floor-spacer. He is a winning player. The kind of guy teams want in the playoffs. That should matter, especially when you are a team like Brooklyn with flexibility, draft capital, and no pressure to rush into anything.
It is safe to assume that the Nets are not going to be contenders next season. Their goal should be to keep developing young talent and staying patient for the 2026 NBA Draft, a class that could produce the kind of star this franchise has not had in a long time.
So no, Brooklyn should not settle. Not for Sacramento. Not for any team trying to lowball. If someone wants Cam Johnson, they better come with real picks, young talent, or both. Otherwise, the Nets should just continue to stay patient.