The Golden State Warriors have made multiple moves this summer to add depth to their roster after losing Klay Thompson in free agency after 13 years with the franchise. We’re in a new era of the Warriors, one where Stephen Curry will be expected to contribute more than he ever has before despite turning 37 years old next season. The Warriors must add some offensive panache next to Curry to help the team have a sustainable route to success in the 2024-25 season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still looking for answers to their lack of playable depth at small forward in a starting five with two offense-oriented guards and two defense-oriented bigs. They could gain a massive upgrade at wing if they join as a third team in a trade where the Warriors go after Brooklyn Nets’ forward Cameron Johnson, with the two contending teams gaining an ideal win-now wing while the Nets consolidate assets.
Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Cameron Johnson
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Andrew Wiggins
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Caris LeVert, Moses Moody, Ty Jerome, 2026 First-Round Pick (GSW)
This deal allows the Nets to receive multiple assets for Johnson and is a better return than they would get in a one-to-one deal with most contending teams in the NBA. The Cavaliers get a cheap upgrade with Andrew Wiggins, who might fare better on the East Coast with a defined 3-and-D role on the Cavaliers under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. The Warriors add a wing scorer with strong defensive instincts to better position them to be competitive in the West.
The Warriors Add The Wing Support They’ve Needed
The Warriors have made solid moves this summer to replace the outgoing Klay Thompson. Buddy Hield, De’Anthoyn Melton, and Kyle Anderson add positive qualities to the team as serviceable veterans, but none of these players can be a realistic secondary option to Curry. Jonathan Kuminga will have the support to blossom into that role on the wing, with Johnson being the perfect offensive addition to further refine the team’s offensive firepower.
He averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on the Nets last season, staying steady as a featured option on a team with little direction. Given how important Johnson was for the Suns when they were cracking 60 wins in the regular season and making the NBA Finals, the Warriors could create a similar environment to succeed for Johnson. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA at his position, making the Warriors one of the scariest scoring teams in the NBA with Curry, Hield, and Johnson on the wing.
Losing Wiggins would be a big blow given his defensive contributions were crucial in their 2022 title run, but his departure expands the responsibilities for Jonathan Kuminga, who’s fighting for a max contract extension this season. Giving him additional responsibilities while adding a complementary frontcourt player like Johnson would put everyone in a position to succeed.
The Cavaliers Add The Wing They’ve Been Looking For
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a massive win-now bet on Donovan Mitchell in the summer of 2022, sending the franchise’s top assets to the Utah Jazz in a risky trade. Mitchell has delivered on the court, playing at a superstar level for the Cavaliers and making them Playoff regulars. But the second-round ceiling the Cavaliers’ roster has right now has more to do with the makeup of the roster and a lack of elite wings on the roster.
Wiggins had a down season in 2023-24, averaging 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. However, he was dealing with major personal issues regarding his father’s health at the time. His father recently passed away, so returning to the East Coast and being close to family in Canada might help Wiggins find a new gear on the court. He would have a defined 3-and-D role on the squad, with two major offensive weapons in the backcourt and towering rim protectors in the frontcourt.
Wiggins would be a solid starting wing who’d demote Max Strus to a bench role, but his scoring prowess could be further highlighted off the bench. The team doesn’t lose any major assets in this deal outside LeVert on an expiring contract and backup guard Ty Jerome, something which would open up minutes for Craig Porter Jr. on the bench.
The Nets Acquire Multiple Players Who Could Be Future Assets
The Nets get a fantastic deal for only losing Johnson in this trade. Johnson is more valuable than Dorian Finney-Smith as he’s younger and a proven offensive contributor. In terms of tradeable win-now assets, Johnson might fetch the highest return and this deal does just that for the Nets.
Caris LeVert was a fan favorite during his stint with the Nets from 2016 to 2021. If the Nets don’t have a use for LeVert given their focus on tanking for the 2025 NBA Draft, he’d be a solid win-now asset for a team looking for a scorer without multiple years left on their contract.
Moses Moody averaged 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season without a huge opportunity on the Warriors. He could be a long-term piece for the Nets provided he shows development with greater opportunity in Brooklyn. He’s on an expiring contract, so the Nets could cut their losses on him next summer along with LeVert to focus on a summer move for Jimmy Butler as has been rumored. Johnson’s long-term contract could create issues with that, but this deal would simplify that.
What Grade Should This Trade Be?
This is a well-rounded deal for all teams involved but could end up being a bad move for the Warriors in particular if the results don’t follow the high-profile nature of this deal.
Golden State Warriors: B+
This deal marks a clear step up for the Warriors, who will resemble a team with enough top-end and rotational talent around Stephen Curry to make a legitimate push for a championship. In addition, Johnson is under a solid contract with a few more years left, which helps the Warriors continue having multiple well-paid players around one supermax star like Curry as compared to what teams were doing with big threes in the past.
If this deal doesn’t work out, especially in the short term, losing their 2026 first-round pick could be a major concern for the franchise. Wiggins also is a proven quantity and Moody is a former first-round pick who could have more value, so they’ll be teetering close to an overpay for unimpressive results.
Cleveland Cavaliers: A
The Cavaliers should have little to complain about in this deal. Yes, they lose the self-creating scoring ability that LeVert brings to the table, but they add a proper defensive presence on the wing to further establish that as the team’s identity to protect an undersized backcourt with Garland and Mitchell.
The outgoing assets aren’t of major consequence and this is a lateral deal that could be a better fit for the Cavaliers. There’s risk involved with Wiggins, whose numbers have been regressing the last two seasons, but the potential for a greater reward is unarguably there. This doesn’t put a strain on their assets either, which would give them room to work something else out if this fails.
Brooklyn Nets: A+
I really don’t see how this deal is anything but nearly perfect for the Nets. Whatever high hopes they had of Johnson’s value won’t materialize in an offer better than this. They get two expiring contracts and a first-round pick from a team with a volatile future. One of the expiring contracts is a potential young star, so the Nets have to be pleased with what they get back here.
Johnson is not going to be majorly missed on a franchise that acquired its 2025 first-round pick back with the sole reason to tank for one of the generational stars in the 2025 Draft. They can do that and acquire the flexibility to be the biggest players in free agency next season with the most amount of cap space.
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