3 teams that could make a run at Nets’ restricted free agent Cam Johnson
It ain’t no fun when the rabbit’s got the gun.
For years, the Sean Marks-led Nets were a thorn in the side of rival organizations attempting to retain their own restricted free agents. It happened twice in the summer of 2016 — with Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson. The Nets were forced to tender exorbitant offer sheets to restricted free agents solely in an attempt to get B-list talent to come to Brooklyn.
This time, it’s the Nets whose sole priority remains retaining restricted free agent Cam Johnson, who will be eligible to sign an offer sheet with the highest bidder this summer.
Johnson, who arrived in Brooklyn alongside Mikal Bridges as part of the Kevin Durant trade to the Phoenix Suns, will enter restricted free agency on July 1. That means while other teams reserve the right to sign Johnson to an offer sheet, the Nets have the first right of refusal and can match any team’s offer to keep the shooting forward in town.
Only if, that is, they’re willing to meet the opposing team’s price, and the market for Johnson’s services has spiked since the forward landed in Brooklyn and assumed a larger share of the offensive burden.
Johnson averaged a career-best 16.6 points through the 25 regular-season games he played after the Durant trade. He picked up the scoring in the playoffs, averaging 18.5 points on 50% shooting from the field and 42.9% shooting from downtown in Brooklyn’s four-game, first-round sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Johnson has said he wants to stay in Brooklyn. He wants to continue playing with his “twin,” Bridges, and has great affinity for the Nets’ front office. The affinity is mutual, as is Brooklyn’s desire to keep Johnson in a Nets jersey.
Yet rival organizations share the Nets’ desire to procure the 27-year-old wing’s services, and a number of teams have cap space to sign Johnson outright as a free agent if the Nets aren’t quick to respond within the 48-hour period after a competing offer is signed.
Three teams have been mentioned most in reports detailing Johnson’s pending restricted free agency.
PISTONS
Possibly the most realistic threat to land Johnson is the Detroit Pistons, who will be armed with cap space and could offer the two-way wing a deal in excess of $25M annually, or a four-year, $100M deal. A Hoopshype report polled six NBA general managers who ballparked Johnson’s upcoming deal at four years, $90M. The Pistons, who have only made the playoffs twice since the end of LeBron James’ first stint in Cleveland, will have to overpay to make the 6-7 forward consider relocating to Detroit.
ROCKETS
The Rockets are another intriguing team mentioned repeatedly among Johnson’s landing spots in restricted free agency. Not only do the Rockets only have $68.9M in guaranteed salaries for the 2023-24 NBA season, but they are also actively recruiting James Harden, whose stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia have been as fruitless as his eight-plus seasons in Houston.
The interesting note about the Rockets, however, is they’ll have cap space to make a similar offer to Johnson even after offering a substantial contract to Harden. Texas also has no state tax, a selling point for players looking to keep the extra bucks in their bank account, and Houston is also home to a number of young, fun players the Rockets could feasibly package together in an effort to build a playoff team next season.
CAVALIERS
Johnson has been mentioned as a “pipe dream” trade target for a Cleveland Cavaliers team without a true answer at the small forward spot, but it could happen. The Cavaliers would need to create cap space by shaking up their roster, but it’s unclear if they will be able to clear enough space to outbid the two aforementioned teams. Unlike the other two teams, however, Johnson could be the difference between the Cavs fizzling out in the first round and potentially making a run to the second round or further.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs are other teams that either have or can easily clear the cap space required to make a competitive offer for Johnson’s services.
The Nets, of course, have the advantage: The front office has already won Johnson over, and his best friend is under contract in Brooklyn for another three seasons.
Opposing teams may ensure, however, that if the Nets do keep Johnson, they’ll pay the premium to do so.
