Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Cam Johnson’s Trade Market Heats Up: Can Sean Marks Take In Another Big Haul For Brooklyn?
Nov 27, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale /Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Today we continue the conversation of trade partners for the Brooklyn Nets veteran talent. Right now(or right after you read this article) you can go see Doug Norrie and I discuss Dennis Schröder, his amazing season, and how much the NBA might not care when it comes to getting trade value for him.
Tomorrow we will discuss Cam Johnson who is currently the subject of several rumors around NBA trade circles. Just like Dennis Schröder, Johnson is having a career year. Unlike Schröder, Cam Johnson has a real shot at landing Brooklyn some serious assets due to his age(28), three-point shooting, and two-way value for any contending team.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that Johnson “may be able to fetch a future first-round pick in return if the Nets trade him before the deadline,” and the Warriors stand as a very interested party as the season unfolds.
The Western Conference is a fairly wide-open landscape after the Thunder and the surging Grizzlies who are 9-1 over their last ten games following a slow start.
On the one hand, Golden State can view this as a positive, sitting in the fifth seed and having all the Championship pedigree of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr at its core. Golden State may be top-five in points per game, but a 22nd-ranked FG percentage and middle-of-the-road 14th-ranked 3PT% leaves plenty to be desired.
The flip side would be that regardless of where teams seed in, the Western Conference playoffs could be a blood bath. The Denver Nuggets are currently the seventh seed with the Phoenix Suns holding a play-in position as the 10th seed. The season is of course long but the bottom line: bolster up your rosters Western Conference because these playoffs will test you.
Golden State, which has also been linked to Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder, has control of its own first-round picks in the next four consecutive drafts. It is a note worth consideration in these discussions.
Brooklyn spent years swapping picks across the NBA landscape before finally reclaiming their short-term draft future this past off-season. When you consider using your own picks on deals like these the calculation becomes “Will be near the back of the first round over the next “x” number of seasons?
If the consensus is yes, you dive into the trade pool confident that at worst you have given a back-end pick away. As we saw with the Net’s recent history - when other teams hold your fate it can force you to try and stay competitive when the best path is to lose.
When having another team’s assets it can behoove a GM to be patient, waiting to see how far that team may fall, and how high the draft pick may rise.
All of this to say, if Golden State believes the Steph Curry window can be held open a bit longer by adding Cam Johnson(or any other Nets veterans) it could make for a smooth negotiation process.
For the full breakdown of how this deal could get done, and the other teams in on Cam Johnson’s bidding war, tune in Thursday to Locked On Nets as we break down our favorite trade partners for Brooklyn.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) waves to the crowd after making a three point shot in against the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter during game five in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. | Wendell Cruz/Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
A strange development of last night’s first round of quarter finals matchups is that I wasn’t anticipating having my heart break for the Orlando Magic. What an effort by a team that has been told over and over again that they are both down and out, and still refuses to acknowledge the veracity of either point.
Orlando’s game against Milwaukee felt contentious, engaged, and energetic, a game with stakes. The NBA Cup has been drawing out competition across the board but I have to give the Magic credit for showing up on the stage the tournament set. That was all them, and all heart.
But enough gushing (for now), onto tonight’s final two games.
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks
There are a handful of athletes in the NBA, anywhere really, comfortable with playing the villain. Trae Young is one of them. Young has leaned into every opportunity to add fuel to the fire of Knicks’ fans disdain for the showy shooter, a grudge going strong since the 2021 playoffs.
It’ll be tougher for Young to take a bow against this Knicks team.
Though they were slower to get on the same page, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have synced up as maybe the best and most overpowering offensive duo in the league. The Knicks are first overall in points scored per 100 possessions since the start of this season, and second overall in their effective field goal percentage. In their efficiency differential — points per 100 possessions minus points allowed — they trail only the heavy hitters of the season: OKC, Boston, Cleveland and Memphis. Things are clicking in New York.
The Hawks have had a string of injuries, notably Jalen Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic/ De’Andre Hunter and Young himself are both listed as probable for the game in New York. The silver lining, beyond whatever happens inside Young’s brain when he gets within the municipality limits for New York City, is that the Hawks have a 5-1 record against the Cavs, Celtics, Knicks and Bucks this season — this team loves to play up. They’ve also taken a defensive jump, are 6th in the league for offensive rebounds thanks to Johnson, rookie Zaccharie Risacher has been a boon, and Atlanta doesn’t mind playing the pest.
Whether this will be the kind of number found on Broadway or off, it’ll be a show.
Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets
What the Rockets aren’t generous about is their defence — the team is one of the most smothering defenders in the league. What they are generous about have been their fines, with head coach Ime Udoa and guard Fred VanVleet ponying up (you’ll be happy to know all fines go to charity). Houston will need all of its efforts in the former to beat the Warriors tonight.
Where the Rockets can’t do much defensively has been way out in the offensive no man’s land of the floor, the place where Steph Curry thrives. The Warriors have a 15 game winning streak going against Houston, largely because of Curry, in general, and lately because of where he capitalizes his efforts against a young team he can easily disorganize with his disruptive shooting.
Houston’s opportunities come in second chance points when they blitz the glass, in pressuring turnovers, and in playing very close basketball. The Rockets are one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA and yet, they’ve made it work, digging in to make every possession matter. The Warriors are in a slump, but the duo of Curry and Draymond Green can make light work of any team when they’re on the floor, Jonathan Kuminga continues to climb, and head coach Steve Kerr’s said that Andrew Wiggins should see minutes tonight.
Udoka called the Rockets last game against the Warriors, when they were thoroughly pummelled, one of the team’s “softest games” since his arrival, so there’s plenty of incentive for Houston to take the win tonight. Those are also the kinds of games, and hopes, that Steph Curry loves to snuff out like a candle.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Monday, Dec. 16 | 7:30PM | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY | Get Tickets
Nets @ Raptors
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Takeaways From Tuesday’s NBA Cup Games
Dec 10, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and center Dereck Lively II (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
NBA Cup Quarterfinals: Winners, Losers, and Fantasy Takeaways
Two of the four NBA Cup quarterfinal games are in the books, and it’s time to dissect the outcomes and what it means for fantasy managers.
One of the most pressing issues is the status of Immanuel Quickley. Despite the frustration surrounding his limited playtime due to injury, I firmly believe in his potential as a top 50 player this season. However, if you’re struggling with multiple injuries on your roster, it might be time to reconsider holding onto him. Evaluate your roster carefully and weigh Quickley’s potential against the immediate needs of your team.
Scottie Barnes’ situation is equally concerning. Although initial X-rays were negative, the possibility of a Lisfranc injury looms large. If confirmed, this could sideline Barnes for a significant portion of the season. Fantasy managers should brace for his absence and explore alternative options to fill the void.
Waiver Wire Trends and Player Evaluations
The waiver wire has been buzzing with activity, and several players have emerged as hot commodities. Kelly Olynyk’s rise in popularity is likely a response to Barnes’ injury, but his role remains uncertain. While Olynyk is a solid fantasy option, his long-term value is questionable given his defensive limitations and the presence of younger, more versatile players.
Cole Anthony’s recent performance has sparked debate among fantasy managers. Despite a lackluster shooting night, the decision to add him was sound, given the Magic’s need for shot generation. It’s crucial to focus on the process rather than the immediate results when evaluating players like Anthony. His role may fluctuate, but the potential for future contributions remains.
Click the button below to get a full breakdown on who fantasy managers should keep an eye on after last night’s games.
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Cam Johnson trade destinations. Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and more It sure seems like Sean Marks and the Nets will trade Cam Johnson this season, and there’s a possibility the list of suitors is even longer than originally thought.
Brooklyn Nets beat Pacers, Cam Johnson and company continue to win
The Nets beat the Pacers 99-90 on Wednesday evening, improving to 10-13 on the season, more than halfway to their projected win total through just 23 games.
Trade season starting early? What is value for Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder, DFS and more?
Recent reporting has the Nets as obvious sellers when it comes to the NBA trade season. That much we already knew. But the real question now becomes what kind of value there will be for guys like Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, and even guys like Cam Thomas.
