A rebuild is on the horizon in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Nets signaled as such with their shocking blockbuster trades. Not only did they get five first-round picks from the New York Knicks for Mikal Bridges, but they also acquired some of their own picks back from the Houston Rockets. That could mean more deals are coming, with Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer saying the Nets are trying to get trade into Wednesday's first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are named as trade targets, and “plenty of calls” are expected for those two players.
When it comes to Johnson specifically, who could make a big play for him? Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers are destinations that make sense.
Johnson is one of the best shooters in the NBA. He shoots 39.2% from three for his career on legit volume (5.7 attempts per game). Not only is he a laser from deep, but Johnson is also 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds. He can hold his own defensively and has popped more as a slasher and driver in recent seasons. Johnson would fit on just about any team. He will have a big market that should include the Thunder and Cavaliers.
More moves for the Thunder
Oklahoma City kicked off trade season when they shipped Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso. It was a perfect move for the Thunder who needed another stout perimeter defender that is also a threat as a shooter. The Dallas Mavericks ignored Giddey, Luguentz Dort, and Aaron Wiggins, but Caruso should avoid that fate if he maintains his 40.8% mark from three this season.
The Thunder were the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA this season. They made 38.9% of their shots from deep. However, it was a drastically different story in the playoffs. Oklahoma City's 3-point percentage dipped all the way down to 35.6% in the postseaspn. Part of that was because players like Chet Holmgren just didn't make the shots they normally did. Another was due to the dare shots teams gave Giddey that he didn't convert.
Johnson would certainly make teams pay for leaving him open. As mentioned earlier, Johnson is one of the best shooters in the league. He performs even better in postseason, too. Johnson has shot 41.6% from three in 38 career playoff games.
Johnson would thrive with the Thunder. He doesn't need the ball to be effective but can thrive in the advantageous situations Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams put him in. The Thunder have plenty of draft capital to make a trade with the Nets, too. This would be the best possible spot for Johnson.
The Cavaliers add a shooter
A team in dire need of more shooting is the Cleveland Cavaliers. They simply did not have enough of it last season, especially in the frontcourt. Cleveland shot 36.7% from three during the regular season, which was around league average. That number dropped to 31.5% in the playoffs. Only the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Orleans Pelicans were worse in that department.
The Cavs don't control any of their picks until 2030. Trading first-round picks is complicated with them as a result of the picks they already have out the door, but they can ship the draft rights to the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Caris LeVert and Georges Niang is enough outgoing to make a trade with the Nets work as well.
A swap of Jarrett Allen and the 20th pick for Cam Johnson may be a deal that makes the most sense for both sides. The fit with Allen and Evan Mobley has been wonky, especially in the playoffs. Mobley also proved during Allen's absence he is ready to anchor the Cavs' defense at the five in the playoffs. Surround him with another knockdown shooter to give him more space offensively would help his game out a ton.
A third team could get involved as a new destination for Allen if the Nets re-sign Nic Claxton. But the framework of a deal for the Cavs to land Johnson is there. It's up to Cleveland if they can land the shooter they need.
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