The Golden State Warriors are looking impressive through preseason, winning all four of their played games so far. The team has embraced an identity of team-wide shooting to overwhelm teams offensively, ranking among the best three-point shooting teams in the 2024 preseason. The franchise will hope their current roster is competitive enough to make a Playoff push but they need more pieces to be realistic contenders for a top-six seed in the West.
The Brooklyn Nets are committed to tanking this season, moving off Mikal Bridges in the offseason and making a deal with the Houston Rockets to regain control of their 2025 First-Round pick. Cameron Johnson is a winning player who doesn’t fit the Nets rebuild timeline and should be traded away, with the Warriors potentially serving as ideal trade partners in a trade deal.
Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Cameron Johnson, Day’Ron Sharpe
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody, 2026 Second-Round Pick (ATL), 2029 Second-Round Pick (GSW)
The Warriors supercharge their offense with a more reliable two-way presence like Johnson as compared to the rough times they’ve had with Andrew Wiggins over the last couple of seasons. Moses Moody would be a great young addition to the rebuilding Nets, while Day’Ron Sharpe can provide valuable big-man play on a Warriors squad lacking interior solidity.
The Warriors Level Their Roster Up
The Warriors have embraced an offensive focus this offseason with their incredible shooting exploits, averaging 40% from three on over 43 attempts per game through three preseason games.
Head coach Steve Kerr has placed massive expectations on Andrew Wiggins to be one of the team’s top contributors and a 40% three-point shooter, but the Canadian forward looks to have been regressing in recent seasons. Upgrading from him to Cam Johnson could yield short-term and long-term benefits.
Johnson averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists last season, being placed in a less-than-ideal situation as a winning 3-and-D player on a Nets squad without a point guard feeding him the ball in the corner.
We’ve seen how Johnson excelled with Chris Paul on the Phoenix Suns, so a winning system with players like Stephen Curry will create more off-ball space for Johnson to maximize. His movement and feel for the offense are phenomenal for a role-player and the Warriors’ motion offense is built for him to thrive in.
Day’Ron Sharpe averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds last season, proving to be a hard-nosed rebounder and rim protector. Instead of relying on sophomore Trayce Jackson-Davis or heavy Draymond Green minutes at center, Sharpe would be a solid rotational piece with long-term upside. The 22-year-old center would be a solid long-term replacement for Kevon Looney, who fell out of the team’s rotation last season.
The Nets Consolidate Their Roster For The Future
This deal brings the Nets two valuable players in entirely different ways. Moving off Johnson is not a bad idea given the 28-year-old forward would be better off on a contender, but moving off Sharpe is an idea many would have a problem with due to his youth and upside. The Nets believe in Noah Clowney to emerge as Nicolas Claxton’s backup, reducing space for Sharpe in the rotation, which allows them to bring value back with two solid players.
Wiggins averaged 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in a down year last season but is a talented 3-and-D forward with championship experience. His shooting isn’t as reliable as Johnson’s, but his defensive potential remains strong given what we saw from him in the 2021-22 season.
We haven’t seen that level of play from Wiggins again, but a comeback year on a tanking Nets squad with low expectations is what he might need to rediscover his confidence. The Nets could also move him to a different contending franchise for additional assets.
Moses Moody might be the biggest get in this deal. The 22-year-old swingman averaged 8.1 points and 3.0 rebounds on the Warriors despite having limited opportunities last season. He could be a breakout star on the Nets next season if he gets consistent minutes, solidifying himself as part of the team’s future core.
Given his contract is expiring, the Nets could extend him to an affordable long-term contract and reap the rewards the Warriors might fail to do with their win-now mindset.
This Trade Sets Both Teams Up For A Successful Season
The Warriors have no choice but to aim towards being a top-six team in the West. They have whiffed on multiple major additions this offseason like Paul George or Lauri Markkanen, showing the team recognized a need to add a scorer to their forward line. Instead of wasting time for another wing star to become available, a small trade without including major assets for Johnson would be a great get for the franchise.
The Nets are as openly tanking as any other team in the NBA, so having a player like Johnson on their franchise is redundant for them. They can consolidate their assets by moving off Johnson and acquiring two players like Wiggins and Moody, both carrying solid value the Nets can capitalize on. Wiggins could rebound within a season and be a more attractive trade option for other teams while Moody could break into a 15-to-20-point scorer.
For their goals, this deal works perfectly. The Warriors make their offensive talents even harder to stop with the addition of Johnson on the perimeter while reinforcing their interior with Sharpe. The Nets commit to a tanking season, allowing a young player like Moody to prove his value.
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