The Cavaliers may have a tough time meeting Brooklyn’s asking price.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had interest in Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson for quite some time. It’s understandable why they would given how well he would fit with their team. His ability to space the floor, defend wings, and play both the three and four is exactly what the Cavs need. However, they aren’t the only team that needs a player like that and they don’t have many moveable assets.
On Friday, Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that the Cavs have “expressed interest” in trading for Johnson and that rival teams believe their interest is “more serious” than just doing their due diligence.
NBA Insider Jake Fischer stated in Saturday’s newsletter for The Stein Line that Cleveland’s interest is merely preliminary at best.
The Cavaliers have indeed called on Johnson, sources say, but their approach for the 28-year-old hasn’t advanced much further to this point. Maybe that changes over these next two-plus weeks (after The Athletic’s Joe Vardon first reported the talks.) It just seems unrealistic that Cleveland could meet the Nets’ demands without a real first-rounder available to headline a trade package until 2031.
Fischer reported that the Nets are asking for two first-rounders and a young player for Johnson. The only first-rounder the Cavs could move is their 2031 first. If Brooklyn is insistent on getting a young player from Cleveland, Jaylon Tyson would likely be the only guy who could fit that mold.
Additionally, the Cavs would need to move some salary to make a deal like that happen. Johnson is making $22.5 million this season. The Cavs wouldn’t be able to match that number without sending out some combination of current rotation players in Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Georges Niang, or Isaac Okoro. There have been discussions about the Cavs looking to consolidate according to Chris Fedor, but this may be too much consolidation and assets moving out the door in a move like this.
Fischer believes that at this point it’s more likely that the Cavs may look to shed salary to reduce a luxury-tax bill.
We’ll see whether the Cavs have what it takes to make a move for Johnson. There are pathways there for Cleveland to reach the salary threshold and maybe some combination of seconds along with one of the role players they send out in a deal is enough for a third team to part with an additional first so that Brooklyn can get the deal that they want.
The Cavaliers have shown throughout the season that they have a championship-contending team. However, the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday did raise questions about whether they can match up well with teams like them and the Boston Celtics that have versatile wings. Johnson could be the missing piece that allows them to shift styles more easily in those matchups.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 6 at 3 PM.