Of the handful of teams expected to be active in the trade market this season, the Brooklyn Nets have already begun. It started with Dennis Schröder, and they likely will not stop there. There are a few players that many teams are keeping their eyes on currently still playing for the Nets as trade targets, and Cam Johnson is one. While he is not a superstar, he may very well be the best non-superstar to switch teams in the coming weeks.
Nets Hold League’s Best Non-Superstar Trade Target
Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Johnson On Trade Radars for Good Reason
It’s been several weeks since the Nets opened up their roster to the rest of the league. With Schröder now gone, other likely trade victims include Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Shake Milton, and Johnson. Ben Simmons‘ status in Brooklyn is foggier than others. The Nets could trade him if they find the right trade partner. Their stance on buying him out appears to be a no-go. Either way, Simmons will be elsewhere next season, which is almost inevitable.
In Johnson’s case, his time is also almost certainly up in Brooklyn, and the trade speculation around him is heavy. Since the trade buzz in Brooklyn began to take shape, Johnson’s availability immediately came into question. He has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and the Orlando Magic. Suffice it to say that Johnson has no shortage of suitors. Besides Brooklyn’s desire to restart their franchise, there’s good reason for that, too.
Why Johnson Is the Best Non-Superstar Trade Candidate
This one was tough, given that both Jonathan Kuminga and Kyle Kuzma are also rumored to be trade-available. Although, if you ask the Warriors, their stance on Kuminga is more conspicuous. Whereas with the Wizards, they are actively looking to trade Kuzma. Both non-superstar candidates offer a lot to interested teams.
Johnson, however, takes the cake as the best non-superstar teams should be willing to invest in. His size as a perimeter player, offensively and defensible, is attractive to any team looking for an upgrade on the perimeter. Other selling points in Johnson’s corner are his shooting and ability to handle a live dribble. For a big man who’s not a center, Johnson’s ball handling is impressive, to say the least, and he can be trusted to carry the ball when needed. As for his shooting, Johnson is a few ticks shy of a 40% career three-point shooter. On the season, he’s shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc and 49.2% from the field. The majority of his offensive production comes from 23 feet out, and his consistency and efficiency are top-notch.
Johnson’s shooting would be an impactful asset, but just his size and wingspan out in the open can affect opposing teams’ shooters in a significant way. He is a solid defender, and Johnson is still very young. He’s only in his seventh NBA season right now. In tune with those attributes, Johnson’s age and upside could sway teams to cough up a draft pick or two in exchange in a larger package. Cam Johnson is no superstar. However, he could be the most impactful trade acquisition not named, say, Jimmy Butler, De’Aaron Fox, or Zion Williamson.
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