If you’ve been living under a rock, the NBA’s current Western Conference standings may surprise you. The Minnesota Timberwolves are at the very top. Meanwhile, that’s not the only surprise in the standings.
Sure, the Oklahoma City Thunder were expected to take the leap this year. They weren’t expected to be the second seed in the West. Arguably, the Thunder are in the best position in the entire NBA.
After all, the Wolves (and other contenders) are bereft of assets. The Thunder have more draft capital than any team in the league. Given their performance in 2023-24 to date, don’t be surprised if the Thunder are buyers at the trade deadline. Could they acquire Cameron Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets receive: F Davis Bertans, G Vasilije Micic, 2025 First-Round Pick (Top 6 Protected – PHI via OKC)
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: F Cameron Johnson
A team’s asset base is important. It gives them options. When you stockpile first-round picks, you can make a trade whenever you’re ready.
This has been the Thunder’s philosophy for some time. No team has ever had more draft capital than the Thunder currently possess. They’ve got their own picks, and they’ve got picks from teams around the league. That’s a luxury for a group that’s as competitive as this team is.
The Nets’ situation is a bit more complicated. They have a good collection of picks – but they don’t control their own draft for some time. Moreover, they’re not an especially competitive team. Should they be sellers at the deadline?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Rumors suggest that they might sell. The Nets don’t seem interested in moving Mikal Bridges. Otherwise, it seems like anyone on this roster might be up for grabs.
What’s Johnson’s trade value? It’s a bit hard to say. He’s one of the better 3-and-D wings in the NBA. Johnson is 27 – he isn’t young, but he isn’t old. He’s on a long-term deal that’s relatively team-friendly, but not exactly a discount either.
A lightly protected first ought to do the trick. Otherwise, the Nets aren’t taking on a heavy financial burden here. Bertans is near the end of his deal, and Micic is inexpensive. He may even be a useful piece for a team in need of a point guard. Should the Thunder part with him?
Why The Oklahoma City Thunder Do The Deal
The Thunder’s team-building philosophy has been interesting. This group has doubled down on plus-sized playmakers. It’s been successful. With that said, there are some holes in this roster.
The Thunder could use some more shooting. They could also use some size at the wing positions. Moreover, they don’t need to worry about a player’s on-ball creation. The Thunder have plenty of that.
In other words, Johnson would be a perfect acquisition. He’s a big wing who’s a knockdown shooter. Johnson doesn’t need the ball to impact the game, either. If anyone out there is sleeping on the Thunder, they won’t be after this deal.
