Phoenix Suns Forward Cam Johnson Dark Horse for Sixth Man of the Year

If you're looking for a strong dark horse candidate for the award, Cameron Johnson may be your guy.

Sports betting has been legal in the state of Arizona for nearly a year now, and the Phoenix Suns have already cashed some bets. 

Whether it be their regular season win total or somebody taking a chance on Monty Williams to bring home Coach of the Year honors, bettors far and wide have been able to bring in some dough thanks to performances in the Valley. 

However, despite Phoenix not yet making good on any futures to win the NBA Finals just yet, next season does offer some appetizing odds whether it be the Suns to win the western conference of Devin Booker's MVP chances. 

If you're looking for some value when making future NBA bets, BasketballNews.com's Evan Sidery says Suns forward Cam Johnson might bring some great value in the Sixth Man of the Year running. 

Sixth Man of the Year Dark-Horse Bet: Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns (+2500)

"Cameron Johnson was a finalist last season for this award, but it still seems like his impressive third-year campaign fell a little too far under the radar. Off the bench spelling Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder as Phoenix’s third wing, Johnson averaged 12.5 points while shooting 42.5% from three-point range. A valuable marksman within the Suns’ formidable rotation, Johnson enters a contract year where a lot of potential scoring possessions will be available to the most aggressive player," said Sidery.

"Devin Booker and Chris Paul still control the offense in Phoenix, but who will step as the consistent third option? Deandre Ayton should be that focal point following a max contract, but Johnson has continuously shown he can pour in points when given the ultimate green light. Suns head coach Monty Williams values Johnson’s underrated two-way game, so expect him to hover around starter-like minutes anyways.

"Kevin Durant’s looming trade saga plays a massive role here too. If Durant comes to the Valley, this is all for naught with Johnson likely off to the Brooklyn Nets. However, the longer this drags out, it feels inevitable that Phoenix runs it all back and sees what happens. If so, keep an eye on Johnson taking another step forward."

Like Sidery mentioned, Johnson nearly won the award last season after finishing behind winner Tyler Herro and Kevin Love. 

Another underrated storyline to watch is if the Suns move power forward Jae Crowder, which might be the ultimate green light for Johnson to get a starting position. 

Regardless, Johnson has proven himself as a valuable commodity for Phoenix and again looks to improve next season. 

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