Thunder can go all-in upgrading their team for a title but they’re in a weird place with so many good players in rookie or cheap deals. It will also potentially make it easier to miss their window when second contracts have to be given out.

Because the Thunder are running away in the west. You don’t mess with what’s working.

One aspect is that this team hasnt have a healthy roster all year. So they have no clue how this team looks completely healthy and properly running their offense without experimenting. The Thunder have always believe growth from 1-18, this includes the two way guys, so they implement various lineups, styles of play, and player development throughout the season. For instance with the shooting this year they wanted the players to take more shots, different shots, and more difficult shots.

I know this sounds weird but this is what the Thunder have down for the past 4 years is develope the style and players throughout the season. With the more shots it was to get the players to be more assertive and uses to scoring as at times last year they would overpass to get the best shot. Now with the different shots they wanted everyone to take more shots off the dribble, with DHOs, relocation, catch and shoot, deeper shot attempts, and to attack the basket to score. The more difficult shots were for them to take more shots that they are contested on wether shooting a three or when attacking the rim. All this was to emulate playing in the post season, when defenses get tougher. The Thunder lead the league in the most wide open three pointers last year because of their offense and their ability to get open shots. After the playoff series with Dallas they notice the bench players reluctantly to shoot with open shots not great shots as they had gotten used to and what they looked for the best shot.

So by going this way their trying to emulate having shots that you would see in the playoffs. That’s the number one reason why the shot percentage is down from last year as they’re trying to get the team to be comfortable with being uncomfortable (damn I listen to too much Presti and Mark). Now with all of that they haven’t done this with a full squad, so adding someone to this and taking aways players to this method would definitely mess up the rhythm, and you would rather have Chet being the focus of gelling with this team than Cam.

I see both sides of the argument. The trade would require us to give up at least one, possibly two of our rotation players at a time when the team is humming and has excellent chemistry. We’d be bringing in a player on a significant contract who would likely expect to start (which won’t happen once Chet and Hartenstein are both healthy) and who would need a bunch of shots.

I’m also concerned about what his addition would do to our defense. We don’t have a single rotation player who isn’t a plus defender…Aaron Wiggins is probably the worst of the bunch and he’s a quality 2-way wing who would start on half the teams in the league.

Johnson might be the addition that puts us over the top, but giving up Joe or Wiggins (valuable role players on cost-controlled contracts for years to come), plus additional assets, for an uncertain fit…it makes me nervous.

Our role players have been playing really well lately

The Thunder are in great shape already, Cam would averaged like 8pts in OKC. I don’t think Sacramento needs him either, they need defense.

They don’t really need him, could also mess up the vibes. Cam will need substantial minutes or else I see him being miserable as a bench piece

I agree with you, but Presti doesn’t tend to do significant in-season trades. He’s a big continuity guy, so my guess is he thinks needing to incorporate a guy who will play as many minutes as Cam could mess with what’s been working for the Thunder. It’ll bum me out if they do nothing and their shooting craters in the playoffs again, though.

They have said they don’t want to mess with the chemistry they have

Some good teams have the problem of having too great of a cap with a lot of depth/players, and no obvious players you can throw in.

There isn’t the obvious: this a washed player that makes 15 mill (maybe expiring on top) you can throw in. Which makes it harder to trade in general. Especially if the trade has to be a 3 for 1 or 2 for 1 trade.

Part of it is if the Thunder are involved you likely won’t hear about it.

I don’t think they think cam Johnson is worth it. Great vibes Great team. Kick assets down the road and make this shit sustainable. No need to make moves for the sake of it

Because the thunder would rather have both wigs and joe for the next 5 years over 2 years of cam Johnson.

There’s also an argument to be made that Johnson is only putting up big numbers because his team is trash.

Contracts and second apron will bite them hard if they load up.

1 unprotected Sac pick is like 3 of OKC’s FRP. OKC has good FRP but nothing even close to a distant unprotected 1st from a franchise that has historically been poorly run.

Presti doesn’t make big trades with picks.

It’s not broken, so they aren’t intent on fixing anything. Their chemistry is great. So is Cam, but they honestly don’t need him.

Honestly, I think the real answer is the length of his contract. The ‘26-27 season is when JDub/Chet extensions start, Hartenstein/Dort have team options that either have to be exercised or an extension reached, and if you include Cam Johnson in the mix too, the Thunder are way into the second apron that year, and Shai’s extension kicks in the following year. So they would either have to feel 100% sure he’s a difference maker compared to the players they’d be giving up (Isaiah Joe plus I suspect the Nets want Topic while the Thunder want to give up Dieng), or be willing to spend draft assets to get him and more draft assets to salary dump him in 2 years. He’s having a career year and he’s an excellent 3 point shooter, but does he add enough other stuff to make that worthwhile? I don’t know that the answer to that is yes. He’s not a rebounder, he’s a decent but not exceptional defender, he’s not a distributor. His role has always been to shoot, and shoot well.

Presti is a coward.

Probably go big on the wing: Fox/Murray/Johnson/Derozan/Sabonis with Monk the super 6th man

Think would still need a better back-up defensive big

Could come off the bench or they move Keegan to the two and have Johnson defend 4s.

Most likely Cam would be coming off the bench, it gives them the opportunity to play bigger when needed vs certain teams.

Edit: But just keep in mind that the source of this is Sidery, so take it with a grain of salt.

The real answer is putting DeRozan and monk off the bench and starting Ellis-Keegan-cam Johnson at the wings in between fox and Sabonis but they ain’t doing that

Realistically Cam Johnson would be coming off the bench because our bench desperately needs scoring options. And then assuming The Kings kinda have a similar nucleus next year it would probably be a gradual switch of DeRozan on the bench as he ages and Cam Johnson being the starter. You could make the argument now that DeRozan should be coming off the bench and he’d be an incredible fit off our bench, but right now it’s working with him as a starter and why change something that right now isn’t broke. Kings biggest need is size and shooting and Johnson would give us an option (although I still think we’d need a bit more, hopefully a playable backup center)

Lineup would be: Fox, Monk, DeRozan, Keegan, Sabonis Backups: Keon, Carter, Johnson.

I still personally think that is an improvement for sure but I’d like the Kings to be aggressive and surprise people this deadline and not sit it out like we have the past 2 years and tbh the summer as well

The bench is real brutal in Sac. One of Monk or Keegan will be coming of the bench.

Who cares who starts, we would be sending Huerter and Lyles so we would only have 3 good wings/forwards in the roster. They could all average 30+ min.

32 mpg apiece of Murray/DDR/Johnson taking all your ³⁄₄ minutes is nice, just really expensive long term

It makes a lot of sense to have DeRozan come off the bench (similar to what Beal is doing in Phoenix now). Doubt that will happen tho.

He doesn’t and that’s why the kings are definitely going to do this deal, lol.

Who are they using to match salaries? Any chance they are sending DeRozen out to bring in Johnson??

I figure Deron Williams is playable for this Nets team, sign him.

Why did you have to bring that up 😫

King Kosta is off limits

Think Marks has the same thought as you hence this info being leaked. Nets are basically saying “this is really the best deal we’re going to get?… seriously?”

Is he an above average defender? He’s not a sieve, but he has a negative DEPM (his DEPM is tied with Josh Giddey) and isn’t particularly switchable.

Yea idk what Marks is doing. He handled the first tank perfectly but this one he’s been making a lot of questionable decisions.

I feel like, contrary to the exploding rumor mill right now, most teams would rather stand pat and not make any major moves. Especially one like adding a player on a multi-year deal to their team. Cam would definitely be a good piece on any team, but I feel like it’s kinda similar to how often guys like Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale were rumored for so long before actually being traded. It costs teams less to acquire a guy at the end of his deal and re-sign him than to acquire him with 2+ years on his contract left.

it’s prob more of no team thinks he moves the needle that much to be worth more than an unprotected first round pick

the rudy trade really killed the calibration of draft capital

kd went to the suns for two young dudes and 4 first rounders unprotected.

kd makes a good team into title contenders, makes a bad team into a good team.

but cam johnson doesn’t really do all that. he can be the third or fourth best player maybe but the jury is still out. and it’s not like the kings are a top seed. at any point it can combust and they start being a play in team

The difference between unprotected and lottery protected is significant for a team like Sacramento. I’ve heard of deals falling apart before over differences like top 5 protected vs lottery protected.

Okay fine we’ll toss in Colby Jones

25, 17, and 42 are all from the same season. 25 for PHO + 17 for BKN = 42 total in 22-23. Still not great, but not nearly as bad as how you’ve represented it

and i believe his injury concerns/history was why he wasnt projected as high as a draft prospect

Maybe the Nets FO just likes the vibes of our FO? Maybe they’re just doing us a solid?

I feel like the new CBA has cratered the value of guys like this. Historically he totally would have been worth two picks but I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes for one. It’s taking time for fans to adjust to the new trade environment; there’s going to be a lot of people in disbelief at some of the deals we’re going to see in the next two weeks.

Cam has been a valuable piece on a finals team before. Also he’s not putting up empty stats. He’s putting up elite efficiency

Since when were we a tanking team?

We need someone tall like Cam so we can inbound against your stifling defense!

Deebo and monk should be coming off the bench. Keon Ellis should be a starter without a doubt but here we are.

13th in defensive rating. Not great but also not as bad as they’re perceived to be.

8th in defense since Christie, and 13th for the season. Hell they were 14th last season.