This yr’s commerce deadline reshaped a lot of the NBA, however the Nets stay unchanged.
They stood pat, holding on to Cam Johnson as anticipated.
Regardless of Johnson having his identify thrown into incessant commerce rumors — linked at varied occasions to the Warriors, Pacers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Lakers and Thunder — The Put up had reported all week that he wasn’t being shopped and was unlikely to be dealt.
The deadline got here and went at 3 p.m. Thursday, and Johnson was nonetheless a Web. Beginning heart Nic Claxton and backup Day’Ron Sharpe are, too, regardless of Sharpe drawing curiosity over the previous week.
Different entrance workplaces reached out to common supervisor Sean Marks, however none got here up with a concrete supply to persuade the Nets to maneuver Johnson.
“If I felt the necessity to go communicate to him about one thing, or I catch wind of one thing that I need to deliver as much as [Marks], then I’ll,” Johnson had informed The Put up. “He has a job to do. I’ve a job to do. And that’s what I’m targeted on proper now.
“And proper now, my job is to play for this staff and to contribute to this staff and to attempt to do all these issues. And his job is to handle the group. So I’m not [worried]. If there’s one thing that I have to know, then I belief he’ll inform me, my agent will inform me. And [I’m] going from there.”
Johnson isn’t going wherever … a minimum of not this season.
The ahead is having fun with a mid-career breakthrough, averaging 19.3 factors on sterling .488/.417/.902 capturing splits.
On a team-friendly descending contract that may depend simply 13 % in opposition to the wage cap the subsequent two seasons, the Nets actually may revisit shifting Johnson on draft evening or in the summertime.
And at simply 28 years previous, he’s nonetheless younger sufficient that he might be a part of their staff ought to they goal for a shorter rebuild.
Whereas some tank-happy followers wished to see Johnson moved merely on the hopes of shifting up within the lottery standings, Toronto’s commerce for Brandon Ingram may assist the Nets catch the Raptors for fifth within the lottery odds.
However the Nets weren’t procuring Johnson and have been going to must be supplied a major return to vary their minds.
Three second-round picks seemed to be the going fee for stable veterans, some extent that was pushed house a number of occasions at this deadline.
Clearly, Johnson has extra worth than that to the Nets.
Marks — who has by no means picked inside the highest 20 — spent Wednesday at Rutgers scouting three potential lottery picks.
Dylan Harper returned from damage with 28 factors, and Ace Bailey added 18 factors and 11 rebounds in RU’s 82-73 win over Illinois.
Harper helped maintain Kasparas Jakucionis to simply seven factors and two assists on 2-for-8 capturing with three turnovers.
It was a minimum of Marks’ fifth journey to Piscataway. He additionally just lately scouted Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe and BYU’s Egor Demin.