Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson‘s trade value remains high and active, with just under three weeks left before the NBA hits the trade deadline on February 6th. Several teams have been linked to the seven-year 3-and-D player, and the Nets are likely to move him, as they intend to do with others left on their current roster. Johnson is one of the most sought-after trade targets at the moment, and two teams from opposing conferences are considered his two top suitors.
Cam Johnson Trade Suitors Include Two Hot Teams
Kings and Pacers Lead in Cam Johnson Trade Sweepstakes
According to Jack Fischer via The Stein Line, the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers are hot on Johnson’s trail. The Los Angeles Lakers were among the teams most linked to Johnson earlier in the season. However, that seems to have changed drastically, considering that the Nets and Lakers have already made a deal involving Dorian Finney-Smith and D’Angelo Russell. Acquiring Finney-Smith with second-round draft picks likely put their interest in and chase of Johnson to bed. Johnson also had a high interest coming from the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost out on Finney-Smith to the Lakers, but that hasn’t reached any significant grounds yet.
Season Turnarounds Changes Things
Fisher points to the Kings and Pacers as possible destinations for Johnson now. It’s an interesting turn of events, considering where each team was in their respective standings a few weeks ago. Both squads were massively underperforming and not living up to the talent and skill represented on the court. It’s old news now, but the Kings were the first to implement a change and promoted Doug Christie to head coaching duties after letting Mike Brown go. Since then, the Kings have turned things around significantly and now sit 9th in the West and a game above .500.
As for the Pacers, they, too, started the season off in dismal fashion. It was surprising, considering where they ended last season as Eastern Conference Finals runner-ups. Like the Kings, they were well below .500 and out of playoff positioning. However, since the start of the new year, Indiana has gone 8-1. Additionally, a five-game win streak in December helped propel their midseason change up. They are 24-19 and fifth in the East. Now, the Kings and the Pacers are equally in much better places. It could mean they’ll be looking to buy at the trade deadline rather than spend the remainder of the season kicking rocks. Trading for Johnson would help either team in big ways.
On Playoff Trajectories
With the recent turnaround for both teams, the Kings and Pacers are headed in the preferred direction: the postseason. If they truly are the frontrunners for Johnson, whoever snags him will boost their playoff contention significantly. That said, whoever loses out, it’s doubtful it will kill their season.
It will be interesting to see who the Kings or Pacers give up in any trades. Myles Turner remains a rumored trade asset for Indiana, considering he’s in the last year of his contract. Even though the Pacers are likely playoff-bound, he could still be moved. As for Sacramento, it is also rumored that Kevin Huerter is a available. The Kings need defensive upgrades and depth. Would he be included in a Johnson trade? Only time will tell.
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