OKC Thunder Linked To Brooklyn Nets Forward Cam Johnson

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been linked to Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson in recent trade discussions ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, according to an NBA Insider.

Dec 8, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) reacts during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images / John Jones-Imagn Images

The NBA Trade Deadline is quickly approaching. With over half the league now eligible to be dealt, and a deal around done in Brooklyn, the leaks from here on out will come fast and furious. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a mountain of assets and one of the league's best teams, despite its notoriously tight lips they will inevitably be tossed into rumors.

As the NBA Trade fodder heats up, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been linked to its first player. On Thursday night, NBA Insider Jake Fischer went on a Bleacher Report livestream titled ask me anything. After being peppered with questions, Fishcher revealed the Thunder have been a team with interest in Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson.

"I have heard Cam Johnson potentially having interest from OKC, I have heard that," Fishcher said "That is one thing I will say before we get out of here."

The interest in Johnson from the Oklahoma City Thunder, if this report is true - which Fishcher did nail OKC's interest in Isaiah Hartenstein - makes all the sense in the world.

This roster is already crowded with plenty of picks coming down the pike. A consolidation trade for a roster upgrade would not be the worst thing in the world for a team that feels they can win a title this season, which the 21-5 Thunder clearly can.

Johnson has played in 25 games for the Brooklyn Nets this season to the tune of 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 stocks per game. The Nets forward is shooting 48 percent from the floor, 43 percent from beyond the arc and 86 percent at the free throw line.

The 28-year-old would be exact what the doctor ordered. A 6-foot-8 210 pound forward that is not a capable shooter but rather a consistent sharpshooter. Johnson is shooting 42 percent on catch-and-shoot looks, 65 percent at the rim and is even producing 1.539 points per possession as a cutter.

Johnson fits the Thunder's style of play perfectly. He is in the midst of a four year $94 Million pact, with two seasons left on his deal.

The Thunder have all the resources to make this deal happen, it would come down to salary. Perhaps the only way to make the salary work would be by shipping out Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe. A combination of Dillon Jones and Nikola Topic also works financially with Wiggins, leaving Oklahoma City to kick in some picks to sweeten the pot. Though, Wiggins or Joe needs to be included in a potential deal.

While moving on from either Wiggins or Joe would be a tough move, Sam Presti himself is quoted to say "Scared Money don't make money," and this move would push Oklahoma City closer to a championship on paper. Especially if Mark Daigneault prefers not to play the Maryland product in big games for defensive purposes.

Johnson is leaps and bounds a better defender than either and gives Oklahoma City more size as well as a shooting threat at the forward position.

The only other way to make it work contractually would be to toss in Kenrich Williams with Ousmane Dieng and Nikola Topic which works be swapping out one forward for a maximized version of another while delievering the Nets an interesting prospect along with a flyer.

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