Nets retain trade acquisition on $108M deal

Restricted free-agent forward Cameron Johnson wasted no time in coming to a contract agreement with the Nets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Johnson will sign a four-year, $108M contract to remain in Brooklyn, agent Steven Heumann tells Wojnarowski.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype clarifies that Johnson will be able to earn up to $108M with incentives, so it sounds like the base value of the deal will be a little lower than that.

The 11th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Johnson immediately emerged as a rotation player for the Suns as a rookie and has steadily improved since then, increasing his scoring average in each of his three subsequent seasons.

Johnson, who was dealt from Phoenix to Brooklyn in February’s Kevin Durant blockbuster, saw his 2022-23 season debut delayed by a knee injury. But he played well after returning, averaging 15.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.5 minutes per night across 42 appearances for the Suns and Nets.

Johnson’s shooting is his calling card. His shooting line this past season was an impressive .470/.404/.842, and he has made 39.3% of 5.6 three-point attempts per game over the course of his career. And while he’s not an elite defender, he has the size and versatility to guard either forward spot.

The Pistons were rumored to be considering a play for Johnson in free agency, but they reached an agreement with the Nets earlier in the day on Friday to acquire Joe Harris in a trade. That move essentially took the Pistons out of the running for Johnson, since Harris gave them the shooter they sought while taking up a significant chunk of their cap room. The move also gave the Nets more flexibility below the luxury-tax line to make a strong offer to Johnson.

With Mikal Bridges locked up for the next three seasons and Johnson secured for the next four, the Nets are poised to build around the two former Suns forward who came over in the Durant trade.