{"id":117642,"date":"2025-01-13T11:00:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T16:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=117642"},"modified":"2025-01-13T11:00:51","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T16:00:51","slug":"the-nets-are-falling-good-for-rebuild-and-cameron-johnson-set-to-stay-beyond-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/13\/the-nets-are-falling-good-for-rebuild-and-cameron-johnson-set-to-stay-beyond-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nets Are Falling And Johnson Set To Stay Beyond Deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Brooklyn Nets<\/a> have fully embraced their rebuild, which has implications for Cameron Johnson<\/a>. They are prioritizing the draft over short-term success. Almost halfway through the season with a 13-26 record and dropping eight of their last nine games, the team now sits sixth<\/a> in the lottery standings. This marks a steep decline from just a month ago when they were 15th in the draft standings.<\/p>\n

The Nets Are Falling Which Is Good For Rebuild And Cameron Johnson Is Set To Stay Beyond Deadline<\/h2>\n

Two key trades accelerated this slide. The Nets sent<\/a> Dennis Schr\u00f6der<\/a> to the Golden State Warriors<\/a> for three second-round picks. They also dealt<\/a> Dorian Finney-Smith<\/a> to the Los Angeles Lakers <\/a>for two second-round picks. Both trades served dual purposes: weakening the roster to improve lottery odds and acquiring valuable trade assets.<\/p>\n

The results have been immediate. Brooklyn is now just a half-game ahead of Portland Trailblazers<\/a> in the standings and closing the gap on fifth-place Utah Jazz<\/a>. The Nets\u2019 overtime loss last night to the Jazz highlights their current struggles but underscores their commitment to tanking for top-tier draft talent.<\/p>\n

Injuries and Offense Are Major Issues<\/h3>\n

The Nets’ offensive struggles have been magnified by injuries to key players. Cam Thomas,<\/a>\u00a0Jobnson, and D\u2019Angelo Russell<\/a> remain sidelined, leaving the team without consistent scoring options. In Sunday\u2019s loss to Utah, two-way player Tosan Evbuomwan<\/a> shouldered much of the scoring burden.<\/p>\n

This lack of firepower isn\u2019t accidental. The Nets are strategically leaning on inexperienced players to ensure losses while developing young talent. The front office\u2019s offseason moves, including trading Mikal Bridges<\/a> for five first-round picks, set the stage for a rebuild. Their aim is clear: emulate teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>, who have built sustainable success through the draft.<\/p>\n

Eyes on the 2025 Draft<\/h3>\n

The 2025 draft represents a golden opportunity for the Nets. Top prospects like Cooper Flagg,<\/a> Dylan Harper<\/a>, and Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey<\/a> offer franchise-altering potential. By securing a better lottery position, Brooklyn increases its chances of landing one of these future stars.<\/p>\n

The Nets\u2019 front office has made no secret of its long-term vision. They\u2019ve prioritized acquiring assets and improving their draft position over immediate competitiveness. With four first-round picks in the upcoming draft, Brooklyn has the flexibility to either draft talent or trade for established players.<\/p>\n

Cameron Johnson\u2019s Trade Market Heats Up<\/h3>\n

While the Nets have embraced tanking, one player\u2019s future remains uncertain: Johnson. The forward is averaging 19.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists this season. His efficiency stands out, with a true shooting percentage of 67% and a modest 21.9 usage rate.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s team-friendly contract, with two years and $47.6 million<\/a> remaining after this season, has made him a hot commodity. Contenders view him as a cost-effective option compared to higher-priced players like Jimmy Butler<\/a> or Zach LaVine<\/a>. Reports suggest the Nets have received numerous trade offers for Johnson, leading to an increased<\/a> asking price.<\/p>\n

Johnson Likely to Stay Beyond the Deadline<\/h3>\n

Despite the growing trade interest, Johnson appears likely to remain with the Nets beyond the trade deadline. There’s a general consensus that the team views him as either a crucial complement to a future cornerstone or a valuable trade asset for acquiring a franchise player. Also, the Nets traded those vets to lose more games. They are doing that now while Johnson is on their roster so there is pressing need to trade him.<\/p>\n

The front office\u2019s decisions align with their long-term vision. Keeping Johnson allows the team to remain flexible while maintaining a capable player who fits their rebuilding timeline. His efficiency and versatility make him an asset, whether as part of the Nets\u2019 future core or in a trade package for a star.<\/p>\n

The Nets’ Rebuild Is Finally in Full Swing, and Cameron Johnson Could Be Part of It<\/h3>\n

The Nets are firmly committed to their rebuilding process. Their moves have bolstered their draft position and added valuable assets, setting the stage for a brighter future.<\/p>\n

While Johnson\u2019s future remains a topic of speculation, the team\u2019s actions suggest he will stay beyond the trade deadline. His combination of production, efficiency, and affordability aligns perfectly with the Nets\u2019 long-term goals.<\/p>\n

As the season unfolds, Brooklyn\u2019s strategy continues to pay off, positioning them for a high lottery pick and a fresh start. For now, the focus remains on the draft, development, and making the most of a challenging season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Brooklyn Nets have fully embraced their rebuild, which has implications for Cameron Johnson. They are prioritizing the draft over short-term success. Almost halfway through the season with a 13-26 record and dropping eight of their last nine games, the team now sits sixth in the lottery standings. This marks a steep decline from just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":117680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,6],"tags":[49979,49838,4069,1899,48964,307,252,2272,49668,142,1484,4975,98,1382,49929,457],"class_list":["post-117642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-nets","tag-2024-25-nba-season","tag-airious-bailey","tag-cam-thomas","tag-cameron-johnson","tag-cooper-flagg","tag-dangelo-russell","tag-dennis-schroder","tag-dorian-finney-smith","tag-dylan-harper","tag-jimmy-butler","tag-mikal-bridges","tag-nba-contracts","tag-nba-draft","tag-nba-trade","tag-tosan-evbuomwan","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117642"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117682,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117642\/revisions\/117682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}