Report: Lakers Have Shown Trade Interest In Nets’ Cameron Johnson

According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Los Angeles Lakers have shown trade interest in Brooklyn Nets wing Cameron Johnson.

The Nets are rebuilding after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. 

“Among many teams, the Lakers have shown interest in Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson this summer, league sources told ClutchPoints,” Siegel reported. “With the Nets taking things in a different direction after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, Johnson appears to be the next player that the organization will look to leverage for future assets.”

Johnson appeared in 58 games for the Nets in 2023-24. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 44.6% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 78.9% from the free-throw line.

The Nets acquired Johnson from the Phoenix Suns in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade during the 2022-23 season.

Johnson, 28, has career averages of 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Suns and Nets.

A UNC product, Johnson will make $23.6 million next season. He signed a four-year, $94.5 million contract with the Nets in July 2023. 

“You don’t get the sense they’re knocking down doors to move him,” one NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports. “I think they’ll get to that point, either in the next few weeks or before the (trade) deadline. He does a lot of good things for you, he can shoot, pretty good defender, good guy to have in the locker room. The contract is not bad, either. So, there will be a market for him if they get that ball rolling.”

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games.

Denver also beat Los Angeles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals in four games. 

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham as head coach and hired former NBA guard JJ Redick, who was podcast partners with LeBron James.