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.
How far will Sam Presti go to bring Cam Johnson to OKC?
Dec 19, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson (2) reacts after making a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton/Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Brooklyn Nets find themselves in a peculiar position as we approach the midway point of the NBA season. With a record of 13-24, we’re caught in a precarious balance between tanking for better draft odds and potentially sneaking into the play-in tournament. This situation demands careful consideration of our long-term goals and short-term competitiveness.
Currently, the Nets sit sixth in tank odds, which puts us on the cusp of significantly improving our chances for a top draft pick. If we can climb into the top five, our odds of landing a top-four pick jump from 34.8% to 42.1%, and our shot at the coveted number one overall selection increase from 8.3% to 10.5%. These may seem like small margins, but in the high-stakes world of the NBA draft lottery, every percentage point matters.
The challenge lies in the fact that we’re not just competing against the league’s bottom-dwellers. Despite their struggles, teams like the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors still boast more raw talent on their rosters. Our unexpected early-season success has put us in a position where we need to make up ground quickly if we want to secure those better odds.
Looking at the standings, it’s clear that the race to the bottom is tight. The top six teams in the tank standings have gone a combined 11-49 in their last 10 games. Only the Utah Jazz have managed to win more than two games during that stretch. This level of “competition” makes it challenging to gain ground, even if we were to go on a prolonged losing streak.
The Oklahoma City Thunder Trade Rumors
Amidst our tanking considerations, trade rumors involving Cam Johnson and the Oklahoma City Thunder have been swirling. The Thunder, with their wealth of draft picks and young talent, present an intriguing trade partner. However, they’ve put restrictions on who they’re willing to include in a potential deal.
One name that keeps coming up is Nikola Jovic, a player OKC’s front office is reportedly very high on. While including Jovic would be a coup for the Nets, it seems unlikely given the Thunder’s attachment to him. This leaves us to consider what other assets OKC might be willing to part with to land Johnson.
The discussion around potential trades highlights the delicate balance we’re trying to strike between acquiring future assets and maintaining enough talent to remain competitive. As we navigate these waters, it’s crucial to remember that rebuilding is a process that requires multiple bites at the apple, not just one high-draft pick.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Nets’ tanking strategy and trade possibilities, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Nets Podcast:
• Analysis of potential OKC trade packages for Cam Johnson
• The impact of early-season wins on the Nets’ tanking efforts
• Breakdown of complex NBA draft pick protections and swaps
Jan 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after making a three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Intuit Dome. | Kiyoshi Mio/Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Kawhi Leonard left the Clippers behind in Denver on Wednesday, he travelled solo back to Los Angeles to meet his family as they evacuated their home in the Pacific Palisades. As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire — the biggest of the five separate fires burning in L.A. — has scorched through close to 20,000 acres of land, homes, buildings and infrastructure. Leonard’s family and their home are safe, and because natural disasters thankfully still trump the audience demand for athlete participation, Leonard’s also able to be away from the team and focus on what’s most important.
Not to draw too flimsy a point between disaster and basketball, but Leonard’s return to the Clippers had been top of mind for me prior to the fires, and his necessary absence now offers another lens to view his prolonged absence this season.
After he was pulled from Team USA’s Olympic play this summer, Leonard underwent a surgical procedure on his right knee. It’s same knee he had surgically repaired after an ACL tear in 2021 and a meniscus tear in April 2023, as well as the quad injury that eventually led to him parting ways with the Spurs over concerns of recovery mismanagement.
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.
Home and Away
Must Read Steve Kerr and JJ Redick share the impact of the Los Angeles fires on their families’ lives. (ESPN)
Biz Aging NBA stars like Jimmy Butler may be in for a rude awakening. (Forbes)
Analysis The Brooklyn Nets face a challenging question: Should they make significant moves before the trade deadline? Evaluating team dynamics and potential strategies is crucial. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Nets head west to take on the Denver Nuggets tonight at 9:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Friday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Slate: Injury Updates and Streaming Options
Jan 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) drives against Washington Wizards forward Richaun Holmes (22) during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The NBA action continues with seven games on tap for Friday, and there’s no shortage of intriguing storylines to follow. Let’s dive into the key matchups and player situations that fantasy managers need to keep an eye on.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Pelicans-Sixers matchup is plagued by absences on both sides. For New Orleans, Herb Jones (shoulder), Brandon Ingram, and Trey Murphy (ankle) are all sidelined. However, Zion Williamson is set to return after sitting out the previous game. The Sixers will continue to be without Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond, and KJ Martin.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic
The Magic are on a back-to-back, while the Bucks are in a favorable schedule spot. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton are all listed as probable for Milwaukee. Orlando will be without Gary Harris, and Jalen Suggs is expected to remain sidelined. Paolo Banchero is reportedly set to return for this game.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Noah Clowney shines with a huge scoring night but Brooklyn Nets lose to Pistons The Brooklyn Nets played the Detroit Pistons at home as big underdogs without Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, D’Angelo Russell, and more.
Cam Johnson trade market heating up? How much should Nets hold out for?
It looks like there will be multiple teams in on trading for Cam Johnson before the deadline and the Nets could hold out for a sizable trade package.
Brooklyn Nets lose to Pacers with injuries mounting up. Day’Ron Sharpe a monster on the boards
The Brooklyn Nets looked like a fully tanking team against the Pacers on Monday, starting Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams, and Nic Claxton. They ended up losing by 14 in a game where they could have lost a lot more.
