<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-rumors-nets-rejected-celtics-jaylen-brown-kevin-durant-trade-proposal-in-2022');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Nets rejected Celtics’ Jaylen Brown-Kevin Durant trade proposal in 2022');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jaylen-Brown-Kevin-Durant.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Nets rejected Celtics’ Jaylen Brown-Kevin Durant trade proposal in 2022</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T08:52:28-07:00">April 3rd, 8:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T09:01:52-07:00">April 3rd, 9:01am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have emerged as one of the top pairings in Boston Celtics history. However, the championship-winning duo would not have had the opportunity if not for a Brooklyn Nets decision.</p><p>After Kevin Durant requested a trade during the 2022 offseason, the Nets <a href="https://x.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1907790813548941407" rel="noopener">rejected a Celtics offer</a> of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and a first-round pick, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p>Boston was coming off a finals loss to the Golden State Warriors and seemed convinced the Brooklyn superstar could put them over the top. Meanwhile, Durant was seeking a change of scenery after James Harden forced a trade and the Celtics swept the Nets in the first round of the playoffs.</p><h2>Evaluating the Nets’ decision to pass on Jaylen Brown trade offer for Kevin Durant</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jaylen-Brown-Kevin-Durant-1.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With the Nets holding out for a godfather offer, Durant rescinded his trade request and began the 2022-23 season in Brooklyn. The team had success early on, posting an 18-2 stretch midway through the year.</p><p>However, an MCL sprain sidelined Durant for an extended period. Kyrie Irving requested a trade at the deadline after the Nets refused to offer him a fully guaranteed max contract extension. Brooklyn dealt the All-Star guard to the Dallas Mavericks, after which Durant re-initiated his trade request.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-kevin-durant-traded-by-brooklyn-to-suns">Nets traded Durant to the Phoenix Suns</a> for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-round picks. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-finalize-trade-haul-mikal-bridges-knicks-blockbuster-deal">flipping Bridges this summer</a>, Brooklyn grew its Durant return to Johnson, Ziaire Williams, nine first-round picks (one of which was used to select Noah Clowney in 2023), two first-round pick swaps and four second-round picks.</p><p>Given the historic pick volume, it’s difficult to say Brooklyn made a poor decision. Brown and White would have presented elite win-now pieces. However, the Nets were not positioned to contend after the 2022 deadline, with Ben Simmons making over $40 million annually for the following two seasons.</p><p>It’s also fair to question whether Brown would have signed an extension with Brooklyn. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/nets-news-kyrie-irving-opens-up-jaylen-brown-support-during-8-game-suspension">Celtics star notably called out Nets owner Joe Tsai</a> for comments he made after suspending Kyrie Irving for posting a link to an antisemitic film at the start of the 2022-23 season.</p><p>“[Tsai’s] response was alarming to me,” Brown said. “He didn’t say that the organization was working together to get Kyrie back on the floor. He said that [Kyrie] had more work to do. And our society has more work to do, including Joe Tsai. It’s 2022. It takes 10 minutes of time to see who these business owners and corporations are associated with, who they’re doing business with, who they’re affiliated with.”</p><p>It’s unclear whether the comment played a role in Brooklyn declining Boston’s offer, but it’s safe to say Brown and Tsai were not a match made in heaven.</p><p>The Celtics built a historically dominant team in the coming seasons, acquiring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to pair with Tatum, Brown and White. Brown won the 2024 finals MVP, averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists during Boston’s 4-1 victory over the Mavericks.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Nets tore down their roster and committed to a rebuild last summer. Following offseason trades with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, Brooklyn leads the NBA with 13 tradable first-round picks and $50 million – $65 million in cap space this summer.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Nets rejected Celtics’ Jaylen Brown-Kevin Durant trade proposal in 2022

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-nets-plan-remains-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-bucks');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Nets’ ‘Plan A’ remains Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Nets-Plan-A-remains-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-trade-with-Bucks.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Nets’ ‘Plan A’ remains Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T11:02:47-07:00">April 1st, 11:02am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T13:24:58-07:00">April 1st, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There is no shortage of paths available to the Brooklyn Nets as they navigate their rebuild. With 13 tradable first-round picks — including their own this year and next — and over $50 million in cap space, they can build through the draft or expedite their timeline with a star acquisition. They reportedly prefer the latter, with one player in mind: Giannis Antetokounmpo.</p><p>Multiple league personnel say a trade for the Milwaukee Bucks superstar <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/31/sports/how-nets-are-planning-to-use-flexibility-to-acquire-needed-stars/" rel="noopener">has been and remains Plan A</a> for the Nets, according to the New York Post’s Brian Lewis.</p><p>Antetokounmpo’s future has been a main NBA storyline amid the Bucks’ struggles since winning the 2021 championship. A 2022 second-round loss has followed first-round exits in the last two seasons. They appear destined for a similar fate this year with Damian Lillard sidelined indefinitely amid a 4-9 stretch over their last 13 games.</p><p>With an aging core surrounding Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have few avenues to improve. They have no cap space or intriguing young prospects and only one tradable first-round pick (2031). The soon-to-be 35-year-old Lillard is owed $113 million over the next two seasons, and their supporting cast — headlined by Brook Lopez, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis — is far from championship-caliber.</p><p>Antetokounmpo is still playing at an MVP level during his age-30 season, averaging 30.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks on 60.1 percent shooting. He has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x6zCD7NpeQ&amp;t=1411s&amp;pp=ygUYZ2lhbm5pcyBibGVhdiA0OCBtaW51dGVz" rel="noopener">said numerous times</a> that competing for a title is his No. 1 priority, and he will do so elsewhere if he needs to.</p><p>“I’m a Milwaukee Buck. But most importantly, I’m a winner. I want to win. And I have to do whatever it takes for me to win. And if there’s a better situation for me to win the Larry O’Brien, I have to take that better situation,” the two-time MVP said before the 2023-24 season.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I'm a Milwaukee Buck, but most importantly I'm a winner. … If there is a better situation for me to win the Larry O'Brien I have to take that better situation."</p><p>Giannis on his future with the Bucks. <a href="https://t.co/XzucRXtmOv">pic.twitter.com/XzucRXtmOv</a></p><p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1702047017432678461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>With Milwaukee’s championship window appearing to be closed, the question has become: When will the two sides move on from each other? And should the Nets cash in their chips if Antetokounmpo has them on his list of preferred destinations?</p><h2>Should the Nets expedite their rebuild with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Giannis.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/grading-blockbuster-mikal-bridges-trade-involving-nets-knicks-rockets">Nets’ moves this summer</a> appeared to signal a clear direction. After trading Mikal Bridges, general manager Sean Marks paid a steep price to reacquire his 2025 and 2026 first-round picks from the Houston Rockets, allowing his team to tank for a top pick in two stacked draft classes.</p><p>Brooklyn has done a far from optimal job executing that vision this season. The team is essentially locked into the sixth-best lottery odds following <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-drew-timme-outperforms-anthony-davis-fourth-quarter-comeback-win">Monday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks</a>. However, many scouts view the top of the 2026 class featuring Darryn Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer as better than this year’s.</p><p>A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer would end any chance of landing the above players and require the Nets to part with a significant chunk of their assets.</p><p>This Brooklyn regime has been down the veteran superstar path before. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/the-greatest-nets-era-that-never-was-a-timeline-of-kevin-durant-and-kyrie-irvings-downfall-in-brooklyn">failed Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden big three era</a> struck fear into the team’s fanbase, its management appears undeterred. However, the situations are far from the same.</p><p>Unlike Durant and Irving, Antetokounmpo would not be coming with another star attached to him, as far as we know. The Nets’ current core consists of Cam Johnson, Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton. A trade for the Bucks star would likely require them to part with multiple of those players and a handful of first-round picks.</p><p>Brooklyn would have draft capital and cap space left over, plus Antetokounmpo and the New York market to pitch other stars on joining. Would that be enough to build a championship team within the constraints of the new CBA? How long will Antetokounmpo sustain his level of play to keep a title window open? And is that worth passing up an opportunity to draft the franchise’s first-ever homegrown superstar in 2026?</p><p>These are the questions the Nets’ ownership and front office will be mulling over this offseason. Their decision could determine the franchise’s future for the next decade.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Nets’ ‘Plan A’ remains Giannis Antetokounmpo trade with Bucks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-rumors-nba-salary-cap-expert-cam-thomas-contract-predictions');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets rumors: NBA salary cap experts make Cam Thomas contract predictions');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NBA-salary-cap-expert-makes-105-130-million-Cam-Thomas-contract-prediction.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets rumors: NBA salary cap experts make Cam Thomas contract predictions</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-31T13:30:54-07:00">March 31st, 1:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-31T13:42:27-07:00">March 31st, 1:42pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets are preparing for a busy offseason following year one of their rebuild. Negotiating <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/cam-thomas-makes-free-agency-pitch-nets-best-in-league-declaration">a new contract for Cam Thomas</a> will be among their top orders of business.</p><p>Thomas remains one of the NBA’s most polarizing young players at the end of his rookie contract. The 23-year-old has flashed elite scoring potential, averaging 22.9 points on 44/36/86 shooting splits over 91 appearances the last two seasons. However, concerns about his playmaking, defense and durability have raised questions about whether he’s worth a significant long-term commitment.</p><p>NBA salary cap expert <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGShD8u6KFc" rel="noopener">Yossi Gozlan projected</a> Thomas’ next deal on the Bleav in Nets podcast.</p><p>“I mean, look, Cam Johnson got four years, $90 million. [Nic] Claxton got four years, $100 million. I would guess something slightly higher than that. Maybe four years, $105 million or like five years, $130 million,” Gozlan said. “And that might be a little on the higher end, but just based on what they gave those guys, I would guess it’s something similar in that range.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I would guess 4-years, $105M or 5-years, $130M… If he's still progressing and making under $30M per year as the cap goes up, that's gonna be a very good deal."<a href="https://twitter.com/YossiGozlan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YossiGozlan</a> predicts Cam Thomas' next contract with the Nets <a href="https://t.co/fBZqpbOMAT">pic.twitter.com/fBZqpbOMAT</a></p><p>— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1903140232557400200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Nets will hold significant leverage in negotiations with Thomas. They are the NBA’s only team projected to have significant cap space this summer, with $50 million-$65 million available. Opposing teams seeking to sign Thomas to an offer sheet will be limited to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($14.1 million).</p><h2>Projecting Cam Thomas’ next contract with Nets</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cam-Thomas.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Signing Cam Thomas to a long-term deal, as Gozlan proposes, would allow Brooklyn to lock him into a cost-controlled salary as the cap rises. League executives expect the salary cap to rise 10 percent for several years due to a $76 billion media rights deal. Given their rebuild timeline and league-leading cap space, the Nets could benefit by frontloading a long-term Thomas deal, as they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/why-nic-claxtons-97m-contract-details-big-win-nets">recently did with Nic Claxton</a>.</p><p>A Thomas contract following Claxton’s structure, adjusted for the rising salary cap, would be as follows:</p><ul><li>2025-26: $30.3 million (19.6 percent of cap)</li><li>2026-27: $27.9 million (16.39 percent of cap)</li><li>2027-28: $25.5 million (13.61 percent of cap)</li><li>2028-29: $23.0 million (11.19 percent of cap)</li><li><b>Total: Four years, $106.7 million</b></li></ul><p>The structure would pay Thomas between 11 and 14 percent of the salary cap in the contract’s final two years, on par with the league’s high-end role players.</p><p>“If he’s still progressing just a little bit, as long as there’s no decline, if he’s making under $30 million per year as the cap goes up, that’s going to be a very good deal,” Gozlan said of the benefits of a long-term contract.</p><p>However, a four-year deal at over $25 million AAV is on the higher end of Thomas’ projections, as Gozlan noted. Spotrac’s Keith Smith offered a far more modest prediction — three years, $45 million — in his 2025 restricted free agency preview.</p><p>“Thomas can score. He’s a better playmaker than most realize. The Nets aren’t in a position to let young talent walk out the door, but Brooklyn can’t start overpaying guys yet either,” Smith said. “Unless there’s a team that falls in love and wants to work a sign-and-trade deal for Thomas, expect Brooklyn to get him back on a solid value contract. Think what Coby White signed for, plus a bit to represent the new cap environment. From there, it’s up to Thomas to outplay the deal, much like White has.”</p><p>Thomas’ representation could push for a short-term agreement, allowing him to re-enter free agency in the near future. Such a deal would allow the Nets to maintain long-term flexibility while adding a tradable mid-sized salary to their books if they want to pivot and trade for a star. However, it’s unlikely Thomas would agree to a $15 million annual salary in such a scenario, given his feelings about his production since cracking Brooklyn’s rotation.</p><p>“When I got major minutes, I feel like I’ve been one of the best guards in the league at my position,” Thomas said after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-cam-thomas-expected-miss-remainder-season-due-to-hamstring-injury">his season-ending hamstring injury</a>. “When I do have the minutes in a featured role, the sky’s the limit for me. We’ve seen that these past two years.”</p><p>Several league sources told ClutchPoints they expect Thomas’ market to fall between $18 million and $24 million annually. The length of the former first-round pick’s deal could be a telling sign regarding Brooklyn’s rebuild plans.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets rumors: NBA salary cap experts make Cam Thomas contract predictions

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-why-dangelo-russell-wants-to-remain-with-brooklyn');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Why D’Angelo Russell wants to remain with Nets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Why-DAngelo-Russell-wants-to-remain-with-Brooklyn.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Why D’Angelo Russell wants to remain with Nets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-05T09:49:21-08:00">March 5th, 9:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-05T09:49:21-08:00">March 5th, 9:49am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell has <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/05/sports/how-nets-use-dangelo-russell-could-signal-plan-for-offseason/" rel="noopener">reportedly expressed</a> a desire to remain with the franchise following his return in a midseason trade, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. Russell has embraced his expanded role with the Nets, where he has seen an increase in playmaking opportunities and a leadership position within the organization.</p><p>Russell, 29, is in his 10th NBA season and currently playing on the final year of a two-year, $36 million contract. He is making $18.6 million this season before entering unrestricted free agency. The veteran guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-dangelo-russell-free-after-lakers-trade">returned to Brooklyn in a late-December trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers</a>, while the Nets acquired Russell and Maxwell Lewis.</p><p>Before the trade, Russell struggled in Los Angeles, averaging a career-low 12.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41.5% from the field and 33.3% from three across 29 contests. His role with the Lakers was often limited, contributing to his declining numbers. However, since rejoining the Nets, Russell’s performance has improved. Through 18 games with Brooklyn, he is averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 38% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc.</p><h2><b>Russell’s playmaking surge Strengthens case for Nets stay</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DAngelo-Russell-1-brings-the-ball-up-court-against-the-Philadelphia-76ers.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Lewis noted a significant increase in Russell’s playmaking, which has played a key role in his preference to stay in Brooklyn. His 8.7 assists per 100 possessions with the Lakers marked his lowest since his rookie season, but since arriving in Brooklyn, that number has surged to 12 per 100 possessions — by far the best mark of his career. With the ball in his hands more frequently and a clear leadership role on a rebuilding team, Russell appears to be enjoying his situation with the Nets.</p><p>Despite Brooklyn’s rebuilding status, as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/records">team holds a 21-40 record and sits 11th in the Eastern Conference</a>, there is speculation that the organization may consider keeping Russell long-term. The Nets have significant cap space entering the offseason, but the once-anticipated 2024 free agency class has thinned considerably due to recent extensions. Initially projected to feature stars such as Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Brandon Ingram, Lauri Markkanen, Rudy Gobert, and Jamal Murray, the free-agent market no longer presents the same depth of high-profile options.</p><p>With limited star talent available, Brooklyn may see value in retaining Russell as a veteran presence who can help stabilize the team’s young core. His strong passing ability and ability to run the offense efficiently could provide the Nets with much-needed continuity as they look to build toward the future.</p><p>While there is no indication of ongoing contract discussions, Russell’s reported willingness to stay suggests that both he and the organization could explore a potential long-term fit. The Nets will have the flexibility to either retain him or use their cap space to pursue other options, making Russell’s situation one to monitor as the offseason approaches.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Why D’Angelo Russell wants to remain with Nets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-cam-johnson-gets-real-trade-rumors-after-remaining-brooklyn-through-deadline');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cam Johnson gets real on trade rumors after remaining with Nets through deadline');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Nets-news-Cam-Johnson-gets-real-on-trade-rumors-and-remaining-in-Brooklyn-through-deadline.jpg"></figure><h1>Cam Johnson gets real on trade rumors after remaining with Nets through deadline</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-08T07:47:13-08:00">February 8th, 7:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-09T08:17:02-08:00">February 9th, 8:17am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>This year’s trade deadline shook the NBA. However, all was quiet on the Brooklyn Nets front. General Manager Sean Marks stood pat, holding Cam Johnson, who several league executives <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-cam-johnson-most-likely-player-traded-before-deadline">named the most likely impact player to be dealt</a> before Feb. 6.</p><p>With the Nets tanking for a top draft selection, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-cam-johnson-returning-ankle-injury-wizards-with-trade-unlikely">Johnson had been a mainstay in trade rumors</a>, linked to the Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies, amongst other teams. However, league sources told ClutchPoints that Brooklyn was not actively shopping the veteran wing, who has two years left on his contract.</p><p>Teams that reached out were met with a steep asking price. And when the clock struck 3 PM on Thursday, Johnson remained a Net.</p><p>“When the stuff happened a couple of years ago, it was kinda weird, but it was Phoenix and Brooklyn. This one was a little different because I heard a lot of different stuff,” Johnson said of the trade rumors. “Every three days, somebody is coming to me with something completely different. I didn’t wanna give my energy to any of those situations because you’re just setting yourself up for whatever. So it was a completely different experience for me. I think that the rumors have been moving quickly since Mikal [Bridges] got traded. And maybe even before or around then.</p><p>Every time my agent called me over the summer, it was like, is something going down? I don’t know. It’s kinda been like that for a long time, and you kinda just deal with it. Straight up. It is what it is. It ain’t going nowhere. Except now, at least there’s gonna be a little cushion where it’s gonna calm down, and then, who knows? Maybe it picks up again.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-jordi-fernandez-brooklyn-confident-predictions-before-cam-johnson-three-point-contest">Johnson is having a career-best season</a> for the rebuilding Nets. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter has been among the NBA’s most efficient scorers, averaging 19.3 points per game on 49/42/90 shooting splits. He leads the league in effective field goal percentage among players attempting at least 12 field goals and seven threes per game.</p><p>While trading him in the summer or earlier this year could have bolstered Brooklyn’s tank, the draft lottery landscape has taken shape with a third of the season remaining. Brooklyn looks increasingly likely to finish with the fifth or sixth-best odds. With teams unwilling to meet his asking price, Marks had no urgency to move Johnson.</p><h2>Cam Johnson opens up on trade speculation after quiet Nets deadline</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nets-forward-Cameron-Johnson.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>However, in year one of a rebuild, the prevailing sentiment has been that the soon-to-be-29-year-old does not fit Brooklyn’s new timeline. Does Johnson feel he’s been overlooked as a player who could impact the team’s next iteration?</p><p>“I don’t really care about what the people have to say. I really care more about what we’re building here,” he told ClutchPoints before the deadline. “My job is to put 100 percent of my effort into building this program. So whether I leave at the deadline or whether I’m here for the rest of the season or longer than that, my job is to help the coaching staff, my teammates, the young guys, everybody.</p><p>I do feel like my personal best days are way ahead of me. I think my timeline is a lot different than most people. I do not think I’ve hit my peak as an NBA player.”</p><p>While the Nets just began their rebuild, they have the flexibility to expedite their timeline. With 12 tradable first-round picks and $65 million in projected cap space this summer, both tops in the league, Brooklyn will be in the mix if a star of their liking becomes available. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-nets-positioning-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-pursuit-someday">Giannis Antetokounmpo is rumored to be their top target</a> amid the Milwaukee Bucks’ continued struggles.</p><p>If the Nets attempt to take a significant step toward contention, Johnson is the type of player they want around.</p><p>“He’s a very reliable person, not just a player. He shows up every day, [has] positive energy, [is] super smart, helps his teammates, [has] accountability. He’s the type of person that you want around, that you want in your family,” said head coach Jordi Fernandez. “And that’s what we’re building here. All that speculation kind of came from the outside. We obviously value Cam Johnson, and we want him here. He’s been great. He’s gonna continue to be great. That’s the thing right now. He’s not the type of person that he’s gonna relax and be like, ‘Ok, I’m here.’ No, he’s gonna keep working, he’s gonna keep getting better and he’s gonna keep doing what’s best for the team.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jordi Fernandez on Cam Johnson remaining with the Nets through the trade deadline:</p><p>“He’s the type of person that you want around, that you want in your family… All that speculation came from the outside. We obviously value Cam Johnson, and we want him here." <a href="https://t.co/sv9GodCgyK">pic.twitter.com/sv9GodCgyK</a></p><p>— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1888064413740961810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>For now, Cam Johnson will finish the season in Brooklyn without the shadow of potential trades looming over him. The six-year veteran is among the most respected voices in a Nets locker room that features 11 players age 24 or younger.</p><p>“That’s my dog, man,” said Trendon Watford. “We got closer this year, with us being around each other for another year. There was a lot of speculation on whether he was going to be here [past the deadline], but I don’t think it affected him at all. It’s always good to have a teammate like CJ and a brother like CJ. He looks night and day different to me [on the court] from last year. I think he’s been hooping, man. And in a few weeks, he gonna win the three-point contest.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cam Johnson gets real on trade rumors after remaining with Nets through deadline

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-ben-simmons-agent-releases-statement-amid-buyout-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Ben Simmons’ agent releases statement amid buyout rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/unnamed-1_521435.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Ben Simmons’ agent releases statement amid buyout rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-07T16:21:42-08:00">February 7th, 4:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-07T16:21:42-08:00">February 7th, 4:21pm</time><address><a>Daniel Locke</a>Daniel Locke covers the New Orleans Pelicans and is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints. He will graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Journalism in May. Daniel has covered Auburn Athletics for the entirety of his time as a student, focusing on football, men's basketball, and baseball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite once again being limited from an action standpoint throughout the 2024-25 NBA, Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons and his agent have started to look towards the future.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-ben-simmons-buyout-cavaliers-clippers-interest">Despite rumors of Simmons talking about a buy-out</a> with the Nets, his agent <a href="https://x.com/NYPost_Lewis/status/1887957830688182768" rel="noopener">confirmed that talks about</a> the future have started between the two parties. Even hinting at a possible extension.</p><p>“Ben Simmons’ agent Bernie Lee on buyout status: “I just saw some of the other reporting. (I) want to be really clear Ben hasn’t met with anyone nor is he. We are having conversations with the Nets and when there is something to be said we will let everyone know,” Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported via Twitter/X.</p><p>It is unclear whether or not<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-nets-ben-simmons-expect-buyout-after-trade-deadline"> Simmons could return to Brooklyn</a> or begin the next chapter of his career with a different team. Simmons and Lee, however, will be determined to negotiate the best deal possible.</p><h2><b>Where could Ben Simmons end up?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/unnamed-2_85bf06.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite concerns surrounding the quality of his presence in the locker room, Simmons could be suiting up for another team shortly.</p><p>According to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets are <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nets-reportedly-near-buyout-with-ben-simmons-clippers-rockets-interested" rel="noopener">the teams showing the most interest</a> in Simmons.</p><p>That contract — even more than his injury history — was the biggest impediment to other teams’ interest in recent years, but now that they might be able to get him at minimum, the Clippers, Rockets, and Cavaliers all have interest, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. Simmons is set to meet with those teams, discuss his role—a bench role for all of them—and then, once he lines that up, finalize his buyout with the Nets.</p><p>Simmons could be on another team shortly. Maybe a change of scenery could be what Simmons needs to get things figured out.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets’ Ben Simmons’ agent releases statement amid buyout rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-cam-johnson-gets-real-different-trade-deadline-swirling-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets’ Cam Johnson gets real on ‘different’ trade deadline after swirling rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cam-Johnson-gets-real-on-different-trade-deadline-after-swirling-rumors.jpg"></figure><h1>Nets’ Cam Johnson gets real on ‘different’ trade deadline after swirling rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-07T13:01:46-08:00">February 7th, 1:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-07T13:08:32-08:00">February 7th, 1:08pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Brooklyn Nets forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-cam-johnson-returning-ankle-injury-wizards-with-trade-unlikely">Cam Johnson heard his name in trade rumors</a> ahead of this week’s NBA trade deadline. After the deadline passed, Johnson opened up about what that experience for him was like. With so much movement across the association, it’s easy for one to think a rumor could come to fruition. That’s natural for most NBA players.</p><p>Johnson <a href="https://x.com/NYPost_Lewis/status/1887930069760311543" rel="noopener">admits</a> the constant chatter was in his head leading up to Thursday afternoon’s deadline, per New York Post’s Brian Lewis.</p><p>“This [deadline] was a little different because I heard a lot of different stuff, just a lot,” Johnson said. “Every three days somebody’s coming to me with something completely different. I didn’t want to give my energy to any of those situations because you’re setting yourself up.”</p><p>Johnson remained level-headed and did his best to not get so wrapped up in the constant trade talks. Averaging 19.3 points on 48.8% shooting, including 41.7% from deep, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game, Johnson’s name was tied to many teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><p>Amid the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-is-ben-simmons-playing-vs-heat-latest-update-buyout-speculation">Nets finalizing a buyout agreement with Ben Simmons</a>, Johnson is staying put in Brooklyn as the team continues its rebuilding phase.</p><h2><b>Where Cam Johnson, Nets stood 24 hours before NBA deadline</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Nets-forward-Cam-Johnson.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Less than 24 hours before the NBA trade deadline, Nets forward Cam Johnson put his trust in the front office. If he was on the verge of being traded Thursday, Johnson had faith he’d receive notice, per ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater.</p><p>“When they feel the need to tell me something, I trust that they’ll tell me,” Johnson said. “Obviously, in my situation, you hope that they give you enough of a heads up and not just something happens, and then 30 minutes later, they call you and say goodbye. But I’ve been traded at 2 AM the night before the deadline. So you’re not in the clear until it’s really over.”</p><p>“Every time somebody taps you on the shoulder, you’re preparing yourself for news or anything that can happen. But at the same time, I just try to keep in mind that I’m blessed to be in a position where I get to play the game I love and compete and still just be able to handle what’s in front of me,” Johnson concluded.</p><p>The Nets lost to the Washington Wizards 119-102 on Wednesday. Keon Johnson scored a team-high 25 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Johnson added 17 points, including three threes, and three rebounds.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets’ Cam Johnson gets real on ‘different’ trade deadline after swirling rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-ben-simmons-nets-buyout-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Ben Simmons potential Nets buyout gets key update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Ben-Simmons-potential-Nets-buyout-gets-key-update.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Ben Simmons potential Nets buyout gets key update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-31T12:29:20-08:00">January 31st, 12:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-31T12:29:20-08:00">January 31st, 12:29pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Rumors of a Brooklyn Nets and Ben Simmons buyout have recently swirled. However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-nets-ben-simmons-zero-interest-buyout-amid-trade-rumors" rel="noopener">Nets may not have much interest in a potential buyout</a> with the three-time NBA All-Star. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the situation could come down to whether or not <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jimmy-butler-deaaron-fox-warriors-nba-trade-deadline-intel-siegels-scoop">Simmons approaches the Nets about the possibility of one coming to fruition</a>. Siegel also reports that the possibility has yet to be discussed between Simmons and the team.</p><p>Injuries have played an unfortunate role in Simmons’ career. There was a time when he was considered to be one of the best players in the entire NBA. He earned three consecutive All-Star selections with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2018-2021. Since joining the Nets, though, Simmons’ playing time has been limited.</p><p>So far during the 2024-25 season, the 28-year-old has played in 31 of the Nets’ 48 games. He is averaging 6.4 points, 7.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per outing. Simmons is still a quality defender and play-maker, and he could help a contending team.</p><p>If Simmons does indeed request a buyout, the expectation is that he will try to join a contender. Adding Simmons would be a risky move given his previous injury concerns, but the reward may be worth it. Although his scoring has declined since his All-Star years, Simmons is still capable of contributing to multiple facets of the game given his versatility.</p><p>A number of teams would make sense for Simmons if a buyout does occur. There is still plenty of uncertainty around the situation, though. The Nets will have a difficult decision to make if Simmons decides to ask for a buyout. At this point, Brooklyn needs to seriously ponder the question of whether or not Simmons will be part of their long-term future.</p><p>Given their current rebuild, the Nets may decide to move in a different direction, but nothing is guaranteed.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Ben Simmons potential Nets buyout gets key update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-nets-deaaron-fox-trade-2025');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Nets ‘in play’ for De’Aaron Fox trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Nets-in-play-for-DeAaron-Fox-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Nets ‘in play’ for De’Aaron Fox trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-28T14:28:02-08:00">January 28th, 2:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-28T14:33:53-08:00">January 28th, 2:33pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Sacramento Kings are “<a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1884340205429129673" rel="noopener">expected to open up talks</a>” about a potential De’Aaron Fox trade. With the NBA trade deadline right around the corner, it appears that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kings-news-open-deaaron-fox-trade-talks">Fox is a legitimate trade candidate</a>. The Houston Rockets, a true 2024-25 contender, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-spurs-deaaron-fox-preferred-trade-destination">and the San Antonio Spurs</a>, a possible 2024-25 contender with a bright future given Victor Wembanyama’s presence, could be suitors. However, multiple reports have suggested that the Brooklyn Nets are interested in the Kings star.</p><p>“Brooklyn Nets are in play. As one source said ‘they’re one of the options,'” Frank Isola of ESPN <a href="https://x.com/TheFrankIsola/status/1884346340647309436" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Charania reported that Fox may already have a target destination. Could the Nets be that destination? It remains to be seen, but Brooklyn is being linked to Fox.</p><p>Ian Begley of SNY <a href="https://x.com/IanBegley/status/1884343892746649707" rel="noopener">also reports</a> that the Nets could be a suitor for the guard.</p><p>“The Nets, per sources, are among the teams that view De’Aaron Fox as a trade target and have been monitoring the Fox situation in SAC,” Begley wrote on X.</p><p>De’Aaron Fox instantly becomes one of the top trade targets ahead of the February 6 deadline. Jimmy Butler’s situation with the Miami Heat has received no shortage of attention, but Fox is younger and could lead a team for years to come.</p><p>The 27-year-old is averaging 25.2 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc so far in the 2024-25 season. He is also recording 6.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per outing.</p><p>Fox has surprisingly only made one All-Star team in his career. Still, he is one of the better guards in the NBA and he would certainly give the Nets a drastic boost.</p><p>Brooklyn is 14-33 this season. The Nets are rebuilding, and Fox would become the superstar that they would build around if a trade were to come to fruition.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Nets ‘in play’ for De’Aaron Fox trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-cam-johnson-brooklyn-blocking-trade-rumors-deadline-approaches');   ga('set', 'title', 'Cam Johnson, Nets blocking out trade rumors as deadline approaches');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nets-news-Cam-Johnson-Brooklyn-blocking-out-trade-rumors-as-deadline-approaches.jpg"></figure><h1>Cam Johnson, Nets blocking out trade rumors as deadline approaches</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-23T10:03:36-08:00">January 23rd, 10:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-23T10:09:44-08:00">January 23rd, 10:09am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NBA trade deadline is two weeks away, and the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-cavs-linked-to-potential-cam-johnson-trade">Brooklyn Nets are at the center of speculation</a>. After trading Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith in December, the team remains active in negotiations leading up to Feb. 6.</p><p>With a roster full of uncertainty, the Nets aren’t avoiding difficult conversations.</p><p>“We’ve been open with our communication if they have any questions about anything going on,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of trade rumors. “As you guys know, whatever is said in the media, it is what it is. Those are things that players cannot control, we cannot control. It’s part of the business. We love our guys, and we want them here. If something changes and has to be communicated, we will, like we’ve done in the past. We’ve been transparent and clear, and it’s worked very well so far.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Jordi Fernandez whether he's addressed trade speculation with the players as the Feb. 6 deadline approaches:</p><p>"We’ve been open with our communication if they have any questions about anything going on. As you guys know, whatever is said in the media, it is what it is. Those… <a href="https://t.co/Pqj0OK8NU0">pic.twitter.com/Pqj0OK8NU0</a></p><p>— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikslater_/status/1881846024852901950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>League executives expect the Nets to continue a roster teardown as they angle for a top draft pick. After moving on from impact veterans in Schroder and Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson is the team’s top remaining trade piece.</p><h2>Cam Johnson blocking out Nets trade speculation leading up to deadline</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cam-Johnson_b5fa20.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Johnson is among the NBA’s most sought-after trade targets amid a career-best season. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter, who is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-cam-johnson-sidelined-nagging-ankle-injury-trade-deadline-nears">currently sidelined by a nagging ankle injury</a>, has averaged 19.4 points on 49/42/90 shooting splits over 35 appearances. Brooklyn is seeking multiple first-round picks for his services, league sources told ClutchPoints.</p><p>While several teams — including the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers — continue to be linked to Johnson, the 28-year-old is <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/01/23/sports/nets-cam-johnson-tuning-out-trade-rumors-swirling-around-him/" rel="noopener">doing his best to block out the noise</a>.</p><p>“I keep my head down. I just try to emotionally disconnect from that. I have to, for the sake of myself, and invest all that energy into the present and to the team that we have,” Johnson told the New York Post’s Brian Lewis. “No matter what happens, the Nets have invested a lot of resources in trying to make me a better player. So my job is to compete for the city, for this team, for this organization, for my teammates. And that’s what I’ll do. And if I get traded, then that objective shifts to wherever I’m going. But for now, this is where I’m at.”</p><p>D’Angelo Russell has no shortage of experience with the volatility of the trade deadline. The 28-year-old has been part of three midseason trades (and five total) during his career, the most recent of which <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-trade-grade-dangelo-russell-dorian-finney-smith-deal">sent him from the Los Angeles Lakers back to the Nets</a> for Dorian Finney-Smith.</p><p>Like Johnson, the veteran point guard is focused on what he can control, a message he’s spreading throughout Brooklyn’s roster.</p><p>“I never care. I never let my mind go to that. The only time I think about it or talk about it or talk about it is when y’all ask me,” Russell said of trade uncertainty. “I really take pride in keeping my mind away from things like that, things that I can’t control. I try to spread that message to the younger guys as well.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Cam Johnson, Nets blocking out trade rumors as deadline approaches

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-is-bradley-beal-playing-vs-nets-latest-update-amid-trade-rumors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Suns’ Bradley Beal playing vs. Nets? Latest injury update amid trade rumors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/suns-news-bradley-beal-dodges-serious-injury-amid-concerning-back-issue.jpg"></figure><h1>Is Suns’ Bradley Beal playing vs. Nets? Latest injury update amid trade rumors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-22T08:52:46-08:00">January 22nd, 8:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-22T09:01:53-08:00">January 22nd, 9:01am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns will visit the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night at Barclays Center. Bradley Beal <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-01-22_10AM.pdf" rel="noopener">is questionable on the team’s injury report</a> with a left ankle sprain.</p><p>Here’s everything we know about Beal’s injury and playing status vs. the Nets.</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2>Bradley Beal injury status for Suns-Nets</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bradley-Beal_526c65.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Beal was active during Monday’s 118-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday after the Suns initially listed him as questionable. He played 25 minutes, finishing with five points, three rebounds and four assists on 2-of-4 shooting. The veteran guard had missed Phoenix’s previous two games due to his ankle injury.</p><p>Another questionable tag leaves his status unclear for Wednesday’s Nets matchup.</p><p>Beal has moved to the Suns’ bench over his last seven games as trade rumors swirl. He’s been somewhat productive in the unfamiliar role, averaging 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 50.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent from three. Despite the role change, the 31-year-old has continued to play heavy minutes, averaging 30.4 per game, the third-most on the team behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-hold-most-interest-in-jimmy-butler-trade">Phoenix remains at the forefront of trade speculation</a> surrounding Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler. Those rumors picked up steam on Tuesday after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-jazz-deal-sets-gears-in-motion-for-jimmy-butler-trade">Suns traded an unprotected 2031 first-round pick</a> — their final available first-rounder — to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks, all of which are the least favorable among several teams.</p><p>With Butler making $48.8 million and Phoenix unable to aggregate contracts as a second-apron team, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-havent-talked-bradley-beal-no-trade-clause-jazz-deal">Beal’s $50 million salary must be included</a> to make a deal work. However, such a move would require the Suns guard to waive his no-trade clause. With the Heat uninterested in Beal’s contract, which has two years and $120 million remaining after this season, Phoenix would also need to find a third team willing to take on his contract in exchange for draft capital.</p><p>The Suns have won five of their last seven games during a soft stretch of their schedule. They are tied with the Golden State Warriors for 10th place in the Western Conference at 21-21.</p><p>Phoenix will be in a prime position to earn a win on Wednesday. The Nets have lost nine of their last 10 games as they angle for a top draft pick. Brooklyn will be on the second night of a back-to-back following Tuesday’s 99-95 loss to the New York Knicks.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Suns’ Bradley Beal playing vs. Nets? Latest injury update amid trade rumors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-cavs-linked-to-potential-cam-johnson-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Cavs linked to potential Cam Johnson trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Cavs-linked-to-potential-Cam-Johnson-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Cavs linked to potential Cam Johnson trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-17T09:41:46-08:00">January 17th, 9:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-17T13:09:06-08:00">January 17th, 1:09pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-cam-johnson-most-likely-player-traded-before-deadline">Brooklyn Nets star Cam Johnson has been mentioned in trade rumors</a>, the one team he could be linked to is the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-why-warriors-unlikely-to-trade-for-cam-johnson">Golden State Warriors were originally connected to Johnson</a>, the latest report from ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel suggests that the Cavs could be a possible option to trade for the forward.</p><p>There have reportedly been thoughts of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/are-bucks-serious-jimmy-butler-trade-deadline-suitor-siegels-scoop">Cleveland going for Johnson to solidify their roster</a> in the hopes of a championship by the end of the season. However, there would need to be some steps in who they would trade which would include Caris LeVert and even their first-round pick from 2024 Jaylon Tyson.</p><p>“Some around the league have wondered if the Cleveland Cavaliers would give serious thought to the idea of pursuing Johnson to push for a championship this season,” Siegel wrote. “A move to do so would result in the Cavs likely needing to trade away Caris LeVert, a key secondary talent like Georges Niang, and possibly 2024 first-round pick Jaylon Tyson since they don’t have virtually any first-round draft picks to give up.”</p><p>“The idea of Cleveland leveraging LeVert has been met with hesitance around the league,” Siegel continued. “Still, the belief is that the Cavs will make some sort of move to bolster their overall depth. Like Johnson, Jerami Grant continues to be a name associated with Cleveland if this organization were to swing for the fences before the deadline.”</p><p>The interest from the Cavs in Johnson <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6068858/2025/01/17/cavaliers-cam-johnson-trade-interest-nba-rumors/" rel="noopener">was also be reported</a> by Joe Vardon of The Atheltic.</p><h2><b>There is a “vast trade market” for Cam Johnson</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cam-Johnson-on-Dec.-19-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There were even talks of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-grizzlies-cam-johnson-trade-labeled-industry-noise">Memphis Grizzlies being connected to Johnson</a>, but that was labeled as “industry noise,” but it would not have been surprising since there is a “vast trade market” for the 28-year-old. So far this season, Johnson is averaging 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and three assists per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from beyond the arc.</p><p>“Johnson commands a vast trade market, sources said, with several playoff-contending teams continuing to monitor his status,” Siegel wrote. “The Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Memphis Grizzlies are still the most discussed teams connected to Johnson when speaking with league personnel. With this said, many are questioning if the Nets would be reluctant to negotiate with Memphis due to the Grizzlies’ attempt to undermine them during discussions for Finney-Smith.”</p><p>The Nets have already traded Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers as a deal for Johnson would signal a retooling phase for the team. As for the Cavs, they are in the thick of it in their quest for their first title since 2016.</p><p>Johnson is <a href="https://x.com/BrooklynNets/status/1880267987577630991" rel="noopener">“questionable”</a> for the Nets’ game against the Lakers with a right ankle sprain.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Cavs linked to potential Cam Johnson trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-cam-johnson-most-likely-player-traded-before-deadline');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Cam Johnson named most likely player traded before deadline');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Cam-Johnson-named-most-likely-player-traded-before-deadline.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Cam Johnson named most likely player traded before deadline</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-17T06:51:41-08:00">January 17th, 6:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-17T06:51:41-08:00">January 17th, 6:51am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite moving Dennis Schroder earlier in the year, the Brooklyn Nets are expected to still be positioned as sellers ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline. Of the several trade candidates on their roster, breakout star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-brooklyns-win-blazers-shows-why-cam-johnson-trade-should-be-imminent">Cam Johnson is expected to be at the top</a> of the list with the most demand.</p><p>While the Nets do not have any true untouchables, Johnson is the player opposing general managers are <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43443542/nba-intel-5-players-most-likely-traded-deadline" rel="noopener">eyeing the most</a>, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps. With a 14-27 record midway through the season, Brooklyn is widely expected to tank the rest of the way.</p><p>“The Nets, who were the early movers in the trade market by trading both Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith over the past few weeks, continue to hunt for as many ping-pong balls as possible in the upcoming NBA draft lottery,” Windhorst and Bontemps wrote. “[Cam] Johnson is arguably the one difference-making player who could change teams over the next several weeks.”</p><p>In his sixth season, Johnson has fully emerged for the Nets. While he has always been one of the best shooters in the league, he has increased his production to 19.6 points per game on 42.8 percent shooting from deep in 2024-2025.</p><p>Johnson will make over $20 million for each of the next three seasons. His remaining contract guarantees over $65 million, giving only a few teams the means to acquire his talents.</p><p>The Nets’ tanking rumors intensified after general manager <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-gm-sean-marks-slyly-admits-tanking">Sean Marks all but confirmed</a> that he does not care about winning as much as he does about preparing his team’s future. His statement made most of his team’s veterans — including Johnson, 28 — expendable.</p><h2><b>Nets trade assets beyond Cam Johnson</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cam-Johnson.jpg"><figcaption>Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In addition to Cam Johnson, Windhorst and Bontemps also identified center Nicolas Claxton as a potential trade candidate. However, no player on Brooklyn’s roster is safe from being moved ahead of the NBA trade deadline.</p><p>The Nets would love to move high-priced veterans Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanovic but will be hard-pressed to find a suitor willing to take on either contract. D’Angelo Russell and De’Anthony Melton also seem to be settled after being recently traded to the team. Any other player could be moved before Feb. 6.</p><p>Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams, Trendon Watford and Tyrese Martin are all potential names to monitor on expiring contracts. Noah Clowney is another intriguing name, though teams would have a tough time prying the 20-year-old away from Marks.</p><p>Marks is likely interested in keeping 23-year-old volume scorer Thomas and 22-year-old Swiss Army knife Keon Johnson. Thomas, however, will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer and is expected to pursue a lucrative contract extension. If Brooklyn decides to oblige, they will have the ability to do so with Simmons’ $40 million contract coming off their books at the same time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Cam Johnson named most likely player traded before deadline

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-why-warriors-unlikely-to-trade-for-cam-johnson');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Why Warriors are unlikely to trade for Cam Johnson');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Why-Warriors-are-unlikely-to-trade-for-Cam-Johnson.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Why Warriors are unlikely to trade for Cam Johnson</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-16T09:36:01-08:00">January 16th, 9:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-16T10:42:06-08:00">January 16th, 10:42am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cam Johnson is among the NBA’s most sought-after trade targets leading up to the Feb. 6 deadline. The Golden State Warriors are among the teams to express interest in the Brooklyn Nets forward over the last month. However, after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-nets-warriors-dennis-schroder-trade">acquiring Dennis Schroder from Brooklyn</a> on Dec. 15, it’s unlikely Golden State will return to the negotiating table for a Johnson deal.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/siegels-scoop-why-jimmy-butler-future-doesnt-control-trade-deadline">Warriors pursued Johnson during preliminary talks</a> with the Nets before the Schroder deal. However, the asking price was too steep. League sources told ClutchPoints that Brooklyn is seeking multiple first-round picks for Johnson.</p><p>Golden State instead opted to trade De’Anthony Melton and three second-round picks for Schroder and one second-round pick.</p><h2>Why Warriors are unlikely to make Cam Johnson move before deadline</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cam-JohnsonCam-Johnson.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After parting ways with Melton’s $12.8 million expiring contract, it would be difficult for the Dubs to match Johnson’s salary in another deal. While Johnson’s cap hit is $22.5 million, any apron team that trades for him must reach $27 million due to unlikely incentives in his contract.</p><p>League sources told ClutchPoints that the Nets also want to avoid taking back long-term salary in a trade. With Brooklyn unlikely to have interest in Andrew Wiggins’ contract and Draymond Green off the table, Golden State would need to aggregate four contracts to reach Johnson’s $27 million apron salary.</p><p>Further, the Warriors appear unlikely to part with significant draft assets amid a 20-20 start. Stephen Curry <a href="https://x.com/anthonyVslater/status/1879773091670483337" rel="noopener">said earlier this week</a> that he doesn’t want to see Golden State make a “desperate” move that would “deplete the future” of the franchise.</p><p>“Desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future, there is a responsibility on allowing or keeping the franchise in a good space and good spot when it comes to where we leave this thing when we’re done,” Curry told the Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “It doesn’t mean that you’re not trying to get better. It doesn’t mean that you’re not active in any type of search if you have an opportunity where a trade makes sense or even in the summer [if a] free agency [move] makes sense. You want to continue to get better.</p><p>“Nobody wants to be stale or be in a situation where you’re passing up opportunities. But it doesn’t mean that you’re desperate just flinging assets all around the place just because you want to do something.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future, there is a responsibility on keeping the [Warriors] franchise in a good space, a good spot when it comes to where we leave this thing when we're done."</p><p>– Steph Curry</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anthonyVslater</a>)<a href="https://t.co/BayxPApoqT">pic.twitter.com/BayxPApoqT</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1879204628199563608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>While a Warriors trade is unlikely, numerous teams are interested in acquiring Johnson. The Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder, among other teams, have inquired about the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter’s availability.</p><p>Johnson is having a career-best season, averaging 19.6 points per game on 50/43/90 shooting splits. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-brooklyns-win-blazers-shows-why-cam-johnson-trade-should-be-imminent">The Nets will field offers for the 28-year-old</a> before the deadline as they continue a roster teardown in pursuit of a top draft pick.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Why Warriors are unlikely to trade for Cam Johnson

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-grizzlies-cam-johnson-trade-labeled-industry-noise');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Grizzlies’ Cam Johnson trade pursuit labeled ‘industry noise’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Grizzlies-Cam-Johnson-trade-pursuit-labeled-industry-noise.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Grizzlies’ Cam Johnson trade pursuit labeled ‘industry noise’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-13T10:04:04-08:00">January 13th, 10:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-13T10:43:46-08:00">January 13th, 10:43am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Memphis Grizzlies are in the market for win-now additions amid a hot start to the season. Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has been rumored as a Grizzlies trade candidate leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. However, one reporter close to Memphis <a href="https://twitter.com/DamichaelC/status/1878621722980815235" rel="noopener">tempered speculation about a potential</a> deal.</p><p>“My read is this is more industry noise than anything. As of right now, there’s nothing substantive between Memphis and Brooklyn in regard to a Cam Johnson deal,” the Commerical Appeal’s Damichael Cole wrote in response to a post linking Johnson to Memphis.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">My read is this is more industry noise than anything. As of right now, there’s nothing  substantive between Memphis and Brooklyn in regard to a Cam Johnson deal. <a href="https://t.co/8BK8eBJqTX">https://t.co/8BK8eBJqTX</a></p><p>— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) <a href="https://twitter.com/DamichaelC/status/1878621722980815235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>League executives expect Johnson to be among the NBA’s most sought-after players leading up to the trade deadline. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter has been one of the league’s top wings this season, averaging 19.5 points per game on 50/44/90 shooting splits.</p><p>Johnson ranks fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage among 60 players attempting at least six per game, trailing only Zach LaVine, Kyrie Irving and Norman Powell. The Nets forward has been linked to the Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Golden State Warriors, among other teams.</p><h2>Grizzlies among teams linked to Cam Johnson trade before deadline</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Cam-Johnson_fe85d6.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Brooklyn has shifted its focus toward draft positioning in year one of a rebuild, trading veterans Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith in the last month. Johnson is the next logical Nets trade candidate. The 28-year-old is expected to generate the most significant return of the three by a wide margin.</p><p>The Nets are seeking multiple first-round picks for Johnson, league sources told ClutchPoints. However, with two years left on his contract after this season at $21.5 million annually, they are not obligated to trade him amid his career-best year.</p><p>The Grizzlies are facing pressure to make a playoff leap during year six of the Ja Morant era. They’ve looked like a contender thus far, posting the NBA’s sixth-best record (25-14) and fourth-best net rating (7.1). A Johnson addition would bolster Memphis’ fifth-ranked offense alongside Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.</p><p>However, Memphis and Brooklyn recently hit a roadblock in trade negotiations for Finney-Smith. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-why-brooklyn-rejected-grizzlies-dorian-finney-smith-offer-featuring-first-rounder">Grizzlies reportedly offered a package of Luke Kennard, John Konchar and a 2025 first-round pick</a> for the veteran wing but insisted on a top-17 protection. They also asked for the Nets’ 2025 second-round pick in the deal.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-trade-grade-dangelo-russell-dorian-finney-smith-deal">Brooklyn accepted the Los Angeles Lakers’ offer</a> of D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks instead. The <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/43263225/nba-jimmy-butler-trade-buzz-intel-next-heat-saga" rel="noopener">breakdown in negotiations</a> led to “hard feelings emanating” between the Nets and Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.</p><p>It remains to be seen whether Memphis and Brooklyn will return to the negotiating table during this transaction cycle. League sources told ClutchPoints that the Nets are aiming to avoid taking back significant long-term salaries in trades.</p><p>The Grizzlies could use Kennard’s $9.2 million expiring contract as a salary-matcher in a deal. They have three intriguing young wings in Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, and Vince Williams Jr., along with control of their first-round picks through 2031 to build a package.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Grizzlies’ Cam Johnson trade pursuit labeled ‘industry noise’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-nets-positioning-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-pursuit-someday');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Nets positioning for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade pursuit ‘someday’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nets-positioning-for-Giannis-Antetokounmpo-trade-pursuit-someday.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Nets positioning for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade pursuit ‘someday’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-12T10:54:42-08:00">January 12th, 10:54am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-12T10:54:42-08:00">January 12th, 10:54am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-brooklyns-next-two-games-could-play-critical-role-determining-draft-position">Brooklyn Nets have been on the struggle bus</a> as of late, currently sitting at 13-25 following Friday evening’s road loss to the Denver Nuggets. The Nets recently made some major moves by trading Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for draft capital and then <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-dorian-finney-smith-shares-eye-opening-take-on-being-a-lebron-james-teammate">dealing Dorian Finney-Smith</a> and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell, who is currently out of the lineup due to injury.</p><p>In their relatively brief history since moving to Brooklyn, the Nets have never been afraid to <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-all-the-latest-trade?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=154653760&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">make big swings</a> both via free agency and trade, and according to the latest intel, they could be attempting to do so once again in the near future should the opportunity present itself, per NBA insider Marc Stein on his Substack account.</p><p>“The scenario repeatedly cited in conversation with rival teams always winds up in the same place: The Nets have long been described and continue to be painted as a team determined to be in position to trade for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo someday,” reported Stein.</p><p>However, Stein also noted that “there remains zero expectation that the Bucks would even consider the notion of trading Antetokounmpo unless he pushed for it.”</p><p>Still, “rumbles nonetheless persist that the Nets are positioning themselves to be ready for such a moment if it arrives,” per Stein.</p><h2>A<b>n audacious franchise</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nic-Claxton-shoots.jpg"><figcaption>Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As previously noted, the Nets have never been shy about swinging for the fences in an attempt to draw in star talent.</p><p>This has backfired severely for the team at times, such as when the team traded for late-30s version of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in an attempt to build a superteam and instead essentially gifted the Boston Celtics the run of dominance they are currently enjoying.</p><p>The team also lured Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving during free agency in 2019, later pairing them with James Harden. That team found much more success when the three stars were on the floor together, but unfortunately, that was an exceptionally rare occurrence, and the furthest the Nets ever got was Game 7 of the second round.</p><p>Now, the Nets have seemingly embraced a full-on rebuild, and it remains to be seen whether they will look to move on from Russell, who doesn’t necessarily fit their timeline building around young players like Cam Thomas and others.</p><p>The Nets also have other tradeable pieces, including most notably Cam Johnson, whom numerous contenders would likely be willing to part with a lot for.</p><p>In any case, Brooklyn will next take the floor on Sunday vs the Utah Jazz.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Nets positioning for Giannis Antetokounmpo trade pursuit ‘someday’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-lakers-could-return-to-nets-for-another-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Lakers could return to Nets for another trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Lakers-could-return-to-Nets-for-another-trade.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Lakers could return to Nets for another trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-07T11:44:00-08:00">January 7th, 11:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-07T11:44:00-08:00">January 7th, 11:44am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly keeping their options open in the trade market after acquiring <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-trade-grade-dangelo-russell-dorian-finney-smith-deal">Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for D’Angelo Russell</a>. According to Senior Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin, the Lakers explored the possibility of including Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe in the deal but were told it would require additional draft compensation. Instead, the Lakers added Shake Milton to their roster.</p><p>Irwin noted that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sources-how-jarred-vanderbilt-impending-return-lakers-trade-strategy">Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is expected to revisit discussions</a> with Nets general manager Sean Marks about Sharpe, while also monitoring Hornets center Nick Richards as another potential trade target. Both players could provide valuable frontcourt depth as Los Angeles continues to evaluate roster adjustments ahead of the February 6 trade deadline.</p><p>Sharpe, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4432194/dayron-sharpe" rel="noopener">currently averaging</a> 7.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 16.7 minutes per game, has been a productive presence for Brooklyn and could provide valuable frontcourt depth for the Lakers. Adding a backup center remains a priority for Los Angeles as they evaluate potential moves ahead of the February 6 trade deadline.</p><h2><b>Lakers may revisit trade talks with Nets for Day’Ron Sharpe</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DayRon-Sharpe-20-controls-the-ball-against-Indiana-Pacers-center-Thomas-Bryant.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This report also comes as the Lakers are currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a 20-15 record. They sit only three games behind the second seed, showcasing the team’s competitive positioning. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-anthony-davis-jj-redick-refs-terrible-egregious-call">Lakers will aim to bounce back from their 119-115 loss to the Houston Rockets</a> on Sunday as they prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks (20-16) on Tuesday night.</p><p>Additionally, Jarred Vanderbilt is nearing his return after missing nearly a year due to a midfoot sprain and knee issues. Vanderbilt, a key contributor during the Lakers’ 2023 Western Conference Finals run, appeared in only 26 games last season. His availability in the next one to two weeks could influence the team’s strategy as general manager Rob Pelinka considers further roster adjustments.</p><p>With interest in Sharpe and Hornets center Nick Richards, the Lakers appear focused on bolstering their frontcourt depth. The ongoing discussions between Pelinka and Nets general manager Sean Marks indicate that Los Angeles remains active in exploring opportunities to strengthen their roster during a critical stretch of the season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Lakers could return to Nets for another trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-thunder-named-as-cam-johnson-trade-suitor-hot-pursuit');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Thunder named as Cam Johnson trade suitor in ‘hot pursuit’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Thunder-named-as-Cam-Johnson-trade-suitor-in-hot-pursuit.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Thunder named as Cam Johnson trade suitor in ‘hot pursuit’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-05T13:19:58-08:00">January 5th, 1:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-05T13:24:06-08:00">January 5th, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/thunder-news-set-new-franchise-record-after-clippers-demolition">Oklahoma City Thunder have been rolling</a> as of late, undefeated since their NBA Cup finals loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing like a legitimate MVP candidate. The Thunder are currently running away with the number one seed in the Western Conference despite significant injury concerns,<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/thunder-news-isaiah-hartenstein-keeping-injured-chet-holmgren-good-spirits"> including to big man Chet Holmgren.</a></p><p>Still, that isn’t stopping Sam Presti and company from looking for <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6036974/2025/01/04/warriors-jimmy-butler-nba-trade-deadline/?source=emp_shared_article" rel="noopener">ways to expand</a> what is already a very talented roster.</p><p>One name that has been frequently brought up on the trade rumor mill is that of Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson, and recently, the Thunder were floated by Anthony Slater, Marcus Thompson II, and Sam Amick of The Athletic as a potential suitor for the sharpshooter.</p><p>“Cameron Johnson is one of the hottest current names on the market. He’d fill a need as an extra shooting wing who could fit in versatile lineup combinations and also makes a reasonable $22.5 million this season (plus $20.5 million and $22.5 million the next two),” the group reported. “But Brooklyn’s price tag has been steep and there are other teams (like the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder) that appear in hotter pursuit.”</p><h2><b>Do the Thunder need Cameron Johnson?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Johnson-vs-the-Magic.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If the Thunder have one true weakness, it’s their lack of reliable three point shooting around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a problem that manifested in the team’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks in last year’s postseason as well as their loss to the Bucks in the final round of the in-season tournament.</p><p>The team has several players who are capable of heating up, including Aaron Wiggins, who torched the Knicks for 15 points in the fourth quarter on Friday evening. However, the Thunder don’t currently have many certified snipers on the roster who defenses have to actively gameplan for.</p><p>Cam Johnson would certainly fit that bill. Johnson has been an elite three-point shooter ever since entering the league with the Phoenix Suns and has also turned himself into a reliable if not great perimeter defender, able to use his wingspan to become very switchable on that end of the floor.</p><p>He would join a Thunder squad that is already one of the most versatile in the NBA, able to defeat opponents in a variety of ways.</p><p>In any case, the Thunder’s next game is Sunday vs the Boston Celtics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Thunder named as Cam Johnson trade suitor in ‘hot pursuit’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-kings-extensive-cam-johnson-trade-talks-nets');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Kings have had ‘extensive’ Cam Johnson trade talks with Nets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NBA-rumors-Kings-have-had-extensive-Cam-Johnson-trade-talks-with-Nets.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Kings have had ‘extensive’ Cam Johnson trade talks with Nets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-02T08:19:20-08:00">January 2nd, 8:19am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-02T08:19:20-08:00">January 2nd, 8:19am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/kings-news-mike-brown-fired-amid-disappointing-season">firing Mike Brown, the Sacramento Kings</a> have not given up on their season just yet. With just over one month until the 2025 trade deadline, the Kings are expected to be active, with Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson well within their sights.</p><p>As they scramble to improve their roster, the Kings have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6032859/2025/01/02/deaaron-fox-kings-mike-brown-firing/" rel="noopener">made their interest</a> in Johnson “known” through “extensive talks” with the Nets, per Sam Amick of The Athletic. Johnson is not their only target but appears to be the one they have shown the most interest in.</p><p>“For now, with the Kings sitting 12th in the West, team sources say they are focusing on improving the current roster while shutting down any and all inquiries regarding [De’Aaron] Fox,” Amick wrote. “Specifically, the Kings are known to have had extensive talks with the Brooklyn Nets about small forward Cam Johnson. There is an internal awareness that the roster needs to be improved, and the Johnson pursuit is just one of many avenues the Kings are known to be exploring.”</p><p>Johnson is currently in just the second year of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-cam-johnson-free-agency-4-year-108-million-contract">four-year extension he signed in July</a> 2023. Through 31 games, he is currently averaging a career-high 19.3 points per game. His significant sixth-year leap has made him a hot name to monitor ahead of the deadline, with the 12-21 Nets expected to position themselves as sellers.</p><h2><b>Kings’ shooting woes in 2024-2025</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kings-DeAaron-Fox-against-the-76ers.jpg"><figcaption>Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Acquiring Johnson would address the Kings’ painfully obvious lack of shooting. They connect on just 11.8 three-pointers per game, the sixth-fewest in the league. Johnson is currently hitting 3.2 threes per game for the Nets, soaring over Malik Monk’s 2.3 per game, which currently leads Sacramento.</p><p>Entering the year, the Kings expected Kevin Huerter — a career 37.6 percent shooter from deep — to be their biggest threat from behind the arc. But through the first three months of the season, Huerter is hitting a career-low 30.3 percent of his three-point attempts, a slump that has booted him from the starting lineup.</p><p>Without a true shooting threat, spacing has often been an issue. All three of the Kings’ leading scorers — De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Demar DeRozan — have never been considered major threats from deep. Huerter’s struggles have forced Monk, the team’s former sixth man, into the starting lineup, further weakening their depth.</p><p>Doug McDermott and Keon Ellis have also been considered for shooting help, though neither has been reliable enough to make an impact. While both shoot over 40 percent from downtown, neither has had the consistency to match. McDermott averages just 9.1 minutes per game, while Ellis attempts just 3.3 three-pointers per contest.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Kings have had ‘extensive’ Cam Johnson trade talks with Nets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-lakers-surprised-people-nets-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Why Lakers ‘surprised’ people around league with Nets trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NBA-rumors-Why-Lakers-surprised-people-around-league-with-Nets-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Why Lakers ‘surprised’ people around league with Nets trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-30T08:32:06-08:00">December 30th, 8:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-30T14:21:35-08:00">December 30th, 2:21pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Brooklyn Nets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Lakers heated up the trade market on Sunday when they swung a deal to acquire <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-trade-grade-dangelo-russell-dorian-finney-smith-deal">Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets</a> for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks.</p><p>The Lakers were able to beat out a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-why-brooklyn-rejected-grizzlies-dorian-finney-smith-offer-featuring-first-rounder">competitive offer from the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, who had a package centered around sharpshooter Luke Kennard ready to go. In the end, the Nets opted to go with the Lakers’ offer, and JJ Redick and company added a coveted 3-and-D wing on the perimeter as a result.</p><p>After the deal went down, many <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-how-and-why-the-lakers?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=153774098&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">teams around the league were stunned</a> that the Lakers were able to pull off this trade and that this was the direction that LA chose to go in, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.</p><p>“The Lakers didn’t just beat out the Grizzlies in the Finney-Smith race,” Stein wrote. “They surprised many league observers who, in recent days, were expecting the Lakers to chase after a different veteran twosome: Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas and Malcolm Brogdon. Finney-Smith obviously can’t provide the bulk, screening, and frontcourt know-how that Valančiūnas offers, but he is a highly regarded multi-positional defender shooting a career-high 43.5% from 3-point range this season.”</p><p>Finney-Smith is only averaging <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/finnedo01.html" rel="noopener">10.4 points per game</a> this season, but he is shooting the 3 at a very efficient 43.5% clip on high volume at over five attempts per game.</p><h2><b>Why Dorian Finney-Smith is a perfect fit for the Lakers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dorian-Finney-Smith_7c1a94.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Finney-Smith is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-magic-johnson-gushing-excitement-trade-dorian-finney-smith">exactly what the Lakers needed on the trade market</a> at both ends of the floor, and while this move may not raise the ceiling of the team to a true contender, it certainly gets them closer to the top of the Western Conference.</p><p>The Lakers have better shooting around LeBron James and Anthony Davis than they have had in past seasons, but they could still use an established sniper off the ball who can play around the team’s two stars. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-how-lakers-beat-grizzlies-failed-dorian-finney-smith-trade-offer">Flipping Russell for Finney-Smith</a> takes another ball handler out of the equation and replaces him with a guy who can play off the ball and won’t require a ton of touches to make an impact on offense.</p><p>Finney-Smith is also a proven productive player in a playoff setting during his time with the Dallas Mavericks, so the Lakers will be thrilled to have him in the equation.</p><p>Defensively, Finney-Smith will arguably be the Lakers’ best perimeter defender on the roster from the second he steps foot in the facility. That is probably the biggest weakness of this Lakers roster this season and has led to them having a very bad defense for long stretches this year. When they played against star perimeter players, they just had nobody who could stay in front of those guys and keep them out of the paint.</p><p>Finney-Smith isn’t going to be mistaken for an All-Defense caliber defender, but he gives the Lakers a smart, experienced defender with good size that can guard both on and off the ball and that alone should immediately make them better on that end of the floor.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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