Versatile Nets forward Cameron Johnson has been the subject of trade interest from multiple contenders this season. According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer (video link), the Thunder are among the title hopefuls keeping an eye on Johnson.
“I have heard Cam Johnson potentially having interest from OKC,” Fischer said.
Across 26 contests for the chippy 11-16 Nets, the 28-year-old is averaging 19.2 points per game on a .489/.431/.874 shooting line (all career highs). He’s also chipping in 4.5 boards and 3.1 dimes per contest.
The Thunder are currently 22-5 on the year and occupy the No. 1 seed in a crowded Western Conference. Led by All-NBA point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City has emerged as a formidable two-way powerhouse. But OKC’s defeat against the Bucks in the NBA Cup championship game showed it could have potential playoff vulnerabilities, especially against bigger forwards, meaning the team could benefit from adding a player like Johnson.
Here are a few more recent trade rumors and notes:
- Given that the Thunder have a bevy of future draft picks at their disposal to use in any potential deal, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports suggests it may be time for the club to part with some of those selections and cash them in for win-now help. O’Connor wonders if Oklahoma City forward Jalen Williams, the team’s primary shot creator next to Gilgeous-Alexander, is quite ready for prime-time after recording more field goal attempts (61) than points (56) in the three NBA Cup knockout round games. O’Connor advocates for the Thunder exploring additional shooting help, more bigs, and potential a microwave bench guard.
- Suns guard Bradley Beal addressed recent trade speculation about his long-term fate in Phoenix, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Beal has been floated as a natural fit for a deal to land Heat All-star wing Jimmy Butler with the team. “Until one of them come say something to me or talks to me, it’s just out there,” Beal said of the team’s front office decision makers. “I’m a Phoenix Sun and I’m here and I’m in the uniform. I don’t pay attention to that. They did that with me for 10 years.” Beal, 31, has a no-trade clause on his $50.2MM contract for this season. “Everybody is going to have an opinion about something. I think that kind of puts you in a negative head space. I don’t pay attention to it.”
- Some opposing executives who have spoken to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor (subscription required) believe the Cavaliers are interested in making a 2-for-1 trade prior to this year’s deadline to consolidate their depth. The Cavs have gotten off to a league-best 24-4 start in 2024/25, thanks in large part to that depth, but the team is just now getting back Max Strus and may want to try to dip below the luxury tax threshold, Fedor observes.
I’d be shocked if okc who have stockpiled all these picks, use them on Cam. Seems like a drastic panic move.
Presti wont. The Thunder are 22-5 and haven’t even played a game full strength yet. Yeah they played a bad game vs Milwaukee but that was mostly just an off night shooting more than anything.
Cam is nothing more than a bench player once Chet comes back in a month or so and doesn’t do much for the Thunder vs what the nets are going to ask for him.
Except when Chet comes back and Starts alongside iHart, Jdub and SGA, the minutes crunch for all of their SG’s and SF’s is only going to get worse.
Basically Jdub is going to start at SF. The only other starting role SG is being held by Lou Dort. So backups at the (2 & 3) include Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams and even Alex Caruso.
I would love it if GSW somehow turns Wiggins and Kuminga into Jimmy and Cam Johnson and another player, in a multi team deal with picks and cash and whatnot involved.
GSWs options are:
1. Fire Kerr (they wont do it)
2. Flip over the majority of the roster aside from Steph and Dray in a hail mary attempt to save the season, knowing that even though this roster isnt gelling, all the players have plenty of trade value
3. Do nothing and keep losing and finish 11th
I have no problems with GSW moving all of Wiggins, Kuminga, Podziemski, GP2, Looney, Slomo, Buddy, Lindy, Santos and even Dennis Schroder because the haul they would get back would put them right back into contention.
Wiggins is better than Jimmy and Cam
Sure
huh? lol
But Davey I thought the Warriors roster was so deep that they were basically a lock for the finals? And I thought Kuminga was about to become the next Lebron?
Are we abandoning both of those ideas? Was your entire comment just copied and pasted from a tweet again?
Deep in the same positions or at the very least a bunch of guys whose skill sets overlap. Just treading on each other’s feet. If the warriors don’t want to include picks and / or kuminga before the deadline, they’re screwed. The roster construction is a mess….perhaps it’s bargain basement time. Slow mo/waters 111 for Reath/Thybulle works. Reath stuck behind Ayton, Williams, Clingan. Hell I’m sure waters for Reath alone could work. Gives the warriors a look they’ve never had, a big that can legit spread the floor. If it doesn’t work, who cares. Both on like $2 mil. Warriors don’t need Waters in anyway. Unfortunately for warriors fans Golden State apparently want to compete yet won’t mortgage their future (picks). Pretty limited without doing so.
Lmao
I wonder how many and (probably more important) which picks the Thunder would need to give up for Cam.
A combination like Isaiah Joe plus Aaron Wiggins would probably be the matching salary. If the Thunder attach their own ’25 first (probably 28th pick or something like that), Clippers ’25 first (could end up in the late lottery, but probably around 20 or so) and the Rockets ’26 pick (the way the Rockets are developing, probably also in the 20s), would that be enough for the Nets?
Because I can’t see the Thunder giving up more, but the way Cam is playing, they probably want more than late firsts.
I can see the Thunder giving up more because why wouldn’t they? Who else are they going to spend them on? They have a ridiculous number of picks, they have to trade almost all of them
Per Sam Vecenie of the Athletic from his column on December 17th. Here is what he believes is required in trade to acquire Cam Johnson. ‘Trade value
A first-round pick and interesting prospects
Best fits
Thunder, Mavericks, Lakers, Grizzlies, Cavaliers’
So a trade of Aaron Wiggins, Ous Dieng, Kenrich Williams and 1 first! Would probably suffice!
As far as I’m aware, the Lakers have 1 tradeable pick and I think it’s next decade. why exactly does this professional journalist think that they are in the mix when they don’t possess either of the things the nets would be asking for?
OKC is very good, but being on top of the standings doesn’t equate to a championship window …. not in this loaded West, where a 4-game losing streak can immediately put you just north of a play-in spot.
Presti can go for it now with Jimmy, Zion or whoever, but Presti plays the long game …. probably waiting on an inevitable SUNS or LAKERS blowup.
Nets will clean house eventually. Any team can use Cam. He’s perfect for OKC. Thunder have plenty of assets right now. They have one of youngest teams. They are in prime position for a major trade. Or just to strengthen this team. You need experience in the playoffs.
Beal seems like a player that will be hard to move. Suns got him for nothing. So they shouldn’t expect much back. IMO Suns getting Jimmy would be major. I just don’t see Jimmy leaving Heat. Only Rockets can pull this off. But he’s too old for them.