The Cleveland Cavaliers look in a firm position to secure the No. 1 seed in the East for the first time since the 2016-17 season. They’re currently 6.5 games ahead of the reigning champions Boston Celtics and are well-placed to build on their advantage and potentially have the best record in the NBA. They’ve announced themselves as championship contenders in their first season with Kenny Atkinson and can make moves to get even better.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have shown a willingness to make trades this season but their biggest asset Cam Johnson remains on the franchise. After failing to wrestle a first-round pick for either Dorian Finney-Smith or Dennis Schroder, the Nets will be determined to get a first-round pick back for Johnson.Â
If the Cavaliers, a frequent trading partner, make a call while including that, it’d be hard to turn down.
Trade Details
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Cameron Johnson ($22.5 million), Jalen Wilson ($1.8 million)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Max Strus ($15.2 million), Georges Niang ($8.5 million), 2031 First-Round Pick (CLE)
The Nets land a first-round pick which could be tremendously useful as it converts six years later by when the current competitive Cavaliers could be in disarray. In the meantime, the Cavaliers strike while the iron is hot to land one of the best wing scorers to help boost their offense heading into the second half of the season.
Cavaliers Fill Their Only Hole
The Cavaliers have two standout guards Donovan Mithcell and Darius Garland while their frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is terrifying. Given how much they’ve invested in these four players, it’s not surprising to see their small forward position having no player who matches their caliber. Max Strus is a good shooter but he isn’t a dynamic scoring option that can help bridge the gap between the undersized guards and the big men.
Cam Johnson is the perfect connective tissue for the Cavaliers. He’s averaging 19.5 points and 4.1 rebounds this season, shooting 42.6% from three. His offensive versatility will keep the team from becoming over-reliant on Mitchell or Garland, as production from one or both has failed them in multiple of their six losses this season.
If the Nets don’t pounce on Johnson, some other contender might. Their current small forward rotation of Isaac Okoro, Jalen Tyson, Georges Niang, and Max Strus isn’t sustainable. They need a standout option in that role, with Johnson thriving at that. It will officially make the Cavs one of the most potent offenses in the NBA, especially with Caris LeVert potentially returning to be a full-time sixth man.
The Nets Land Assets And Tradeable Veterans
The Nets shouldn’t be aiming too high in the trade market, with some reports suggesting they think they can trade Cam Johnson away for an even heftier price next season. However, nothing is certain in the NBA and Johnson is one cold spell away from being half of what he is worth right now. The Nets need to maximize what they get back in return, and these assets aren’t half-bad.
Strus is averaging 7.5 points and 3.8 rebounds this season and will be on an appealing two-year, $55.5 million for the next two seasons. Georges Niang is averaging 8.5 points and 3.7 rebounds on an expiring contract, so unless he makes a lasting locker-room impression, he’s bound to get moved on as well.Â
This deal gives the Nets the power to control a pick projected to be extremely valuable, something they’d be most excited for. If need be, they can just trade the pick for immediate or longer-term acquisitions. This could be a disgruntled young star such as Cam Whitmore in Houston or someone else in a different destination.
All these assets will one day bear their fruit, as Sean Marks and the Nets GM continue to search for the next NBA superstar to build their franchise around.
The Cavaliers Go Win-Now While The Nets Do The Opposite
The Cavaliers have been a historically bad team in the non-LeBron James era, with this being the first spell of non-LeBron success they’ve had in decades. Getting a pick that far out in the future might be viewed as counterproductive by the Nets, but it promises to be extremely valuable, as the Cavaliers are strapped for assets in the future.Â
This trade not working for the Cavs could lead to a pretty disastrous end for everyone involved, as Johnson will hurt his credibility in the NBA while the Cavs will be attacked for making a deal in the middle of a fantastic regular season.
The Nets have already gotten their tank back on track but the team still has some ways to go before they’re bottom-feeders. They have no use for Cam Johnson, a player who does everything on the court to ensure his team wins. This would be a massive haul for the Suns but the Nets will be pleased to have gotten that pick as well.
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