Would Cameron Johnson Elevate Pacers To NBA Title Contenders?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Svyatoslav Rovenchuk | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 9:47 AM ET

The 2024-25 NBA season has been characterized by inconsistency. Nothing tells that story better than their 18-18 record. Something will eventually need to be done to tip the scales one way or the other.

There are times this season when the Pacers have looked like a team down in the dumps, riding long losing streaks. However, Indiana can also turn to positive notes like winning the season series against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics as encouraging signs of what this team is capable of.

The Pacers currently occupy the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. However, with how close most of the records are between the fifth and 11th seedings, there is potential for rapid movement in either direction.

In the interests of the Pacers capitalizing on what could prove to be another strong team by season's end, Indiana would be wise to explore the trade market, leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 6.

Marc Stein recently suggested that the Pacers could be a team that will be in on the Cameron Johnson sweepstakes. The Brooklyn Nets forward has been a popular name in the NBA rumor mill and is expected to have a robust market before this year's deadline.

Johnson should be an easy plug-and-play at the small forward spot for the Pacers. The mold of player that the Nets forward brings should fit right in on any team, and the Pacers are no exception to that.

It has been suggested that the Pacers could use the contracts of Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, and other expiring deals like James Wiseman or Isaiah Jackson, to facilitate this trade. One would imagine draft pick compensation to be a significant part of negotiations as well, considering how in demand Johnson is.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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