How Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson can really get paid next summer

It’s late in a close game and he’s on the floor.

Devin Booker and Chris Paul are drawing defensive attention — and looking to find Cam Johnson to do what he does best.

Catch and shoot for 3.

Johnson delivered a trio from deep in the fourth quarter to help Phoenix close out Houston, 124-109, Sunday night at Footprint Center.

“I love it, man, I love it,” Johnson said. “We’ve got some pretty good players and some primetime guys that command a lot of attention, especially down the stretch. When teams try to take away those options, a lot of times, I’m the beneficiary of that.”

Johnson scored a season-high 19 in Sunday’s win with nine coming in the fourth on 3-of-4 from 3.

His teammates are loving that, too.

“It’s so good to see him letting it fly,” said Chris Paul as Johnson was on the other end of his first two assists and the final one that resulted in a 3 to give Phoenix a 122-107 lead with 1:18 left in the game.

“We’ve got a drill in practice called ‘let it fly,’ and when you shoot it like Cam, make or miss, when I kick it to him and he shoot it, that’s great for us not just in that game, but consistently all season long.”

Shooting is a given for Johnson, but he's been working to become a more complete player as a “night in, night out” starter.

“His acclimation will hopefully get smoother over time,” coach Monty Williams said. “It’s still hard to say. It’s a work in progress for sure. He’s started before, but he hasn’t been the night in, night out starter from the jump where people are game planning for him at the start of the game. Those guys are used to playing with each other, but I think over time, we may learn some things about that lineup.”

Sources informed The Republic the Suns went into training camp looking to start Johnson ahead of Jae Crowder, who later decided not to attend training camp. The Suns have been trying to trade the veteran forward who started all 80 games he saw action in last season counting the playoffs.

Crowder played a key role in Phoenix reaching the 2021 finals his first season with the Suns and having the NBA’s best record last season. Chris Haynes reported during last week’s Suns-Warriors game on TNT in Phoenix that Crowder told him this isn’t about him starting or not.

Crowder is in the final year of his three-year, $30-million deal with Phoenix. Every player wants security and having an extension would provide that for Crowder, but the Suns have $131 million tied into five players next season — Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Landry Shamet and Paul.

And Phoenix was negotiating with Johnson on a rookie extension that would’ve kicked in next season, but the two sides couldn’t agree on a deal. Sources informed The Republic the two sides were in the same area code, but Johnson wanted more than Phoenix's offer of $60 million over four seasons.

Johnson noted the team’s ownership situation made negotiations “extremely interesting.” Robert Sarver is trying to sell the team that is now worth $2.7 billion according to Forbes amid backlash from the investigation findings into his behavior during his tenure as owner of the team. That resulted in a one-year suspension and $10 million fine against Sarver.

Johnson will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2023. The Suns can match any offer Johnson gets, but how Johnson plays as a starter — and the market — will greatly determine what he’s offered.

If the 6-8 forward does the following three things, he’ll have a better chance to leave the bargaining table next summer happier and way richer.

Stay healthy

That’s easier said than done.

Already with a history of injuries, Johnson started this season with three setbacks in three consecutive games he played.

He sprained his right thumb in the preseason against the Lakers and missed the final two preseason games. Johnson returned and had quad cramps in the opener against the Mavericks.

Then he suffered a right hip contusion after taking a charge at Portland that kept him out of most of the fourth quarter and overtime, but Johnson played the next game two days later at the Clippers.

That’s huge for him to continue playing through discomfort.

Durability played a role in Mikal Bridges getting the four-year, $90-million rookie extension. He’s never missed game in his fifth season.

Johnson played a career-high 66 games last season, starting 16. If he can play 70-plus this season, especially as a full-time starter, that’ll answer those durability questions.

Knock down timely 3s

Johnson is a career 39% shooter from 3.

He shot a career-best 42.5 last season and is making 38.5% of them this season. Johnson has knocked down multiple 3s in four of his six games that included a season-high five against the Rockets.

So, he’s going to make 3s. The key is to make impactful ones.

That’s what he did at the end of the Houston game, but they don’t always have to come down the stretch. His first 3 against the Clippers gave Phoenix a 10-point lead, 14-4, in the first quarter after Norman Powell scored.

That’s a huge answer early to further set the tone for Phoenix.

Again, he’s going to make 3s at a high clip, but hitting them in the clutch, to help set the tone or answer a run is big.

The other things

The Suns are asking Johnson to do more than score.

Improve his handles. Facilitate. Defend. Rebound.

And they’re asking him to do more in a shorter amount of time. Williams said he’d like for Johnson to average in the mid-20s in minutes.

If Johnson puts up career numbers, delivers comes postseason and does everything they’re asking of him — and score — somebody is going to pay him.

It’ll then be on Phoenix to match an offer that should be way more than $60 million over four seasons.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson can really get paid next summer