Potential Free agent/trade/sign tracker
- Thread starter iowamcnabb
- Start date
twslam07
All-Star
If we do end up trading for Cam Johnson, I really hope we’re only giving up one 1st rounder. Giving up two 1sts would be quite the overpay and make life difficult if we’re wanting to make upgrades/tweaks in the future.
As I’ve said before, I really like Cam Johnson in a vacuum, but I do believe DeRozan, Johnson, & Murray are all best at SF (especially when you’re C has below average length). I think we’d still be very susceptible to losing to teams with bigger, imposing frontcourts in a playoff atmosphere. Our strategy would be to outscore those types of teams (vs. slow them down). As you can probably tell, I’m not in love with the ceiling of that strategy
Regardless, adding Johnson to this roster will in fact makes us a better team, and I’ll be cheering that I’m wrong about our ceiling and that we’d be able to somehow overcome the lack of length in our frontcourt. Maybe if Murray and Monk can return to being 40%+ 3PT shooters with 7+ 3PAs, we’d just be able to overwhelm teams with a lethal combo of our go-to scorers (Fox, Monk, DeRozan, & Sabonis) + our elite C&S shooters (Monk, Ellis, Johnson, & Murray).
As I’ve said before, I really like Cam Johnson in a vacuum, but I do believe DeRozan, Johnson, & Murray are all best at SF (especially when you’re C has below average length). I think we’d still be very susceptible to losing to teams with bigger, imposing frontcourts in a playoff atmosphere. Our strategy would be to outscore those types of teams (vs. slow them down). As you can probably tell, I’m not in love with the ceiling of that strategy
Regardless, adding Johnson to this roster will in fact makes us a better team, and I’ll be cheering that I’m wrong about our ceiling and that we’d be able to somehow overcome the lack of length in our frontcourt. Maybe if Murray and Monk can return to being 40%+ 3PT shooters with 7+ 3PAs, we’d just be able to overwhelm teams with a lethal combo of our go-to scorers (Fox, Monk, DeRozan, & Sabonis) + our elite C&S shooters (Monk, Ellis, Johnson, & Murray).
Watching Huerter and Keegan again tonight, I think adding a Cam Johnson proven spacer from the wing slot probably is more important than we're letting on. We just can't rely on them right now and especially with Monk being streaky with his shooting. Can't rule out that Cam's just taken a leap this season as an overall scorer. 19 PPG on 67% TS on only 22% USG is incredibly impressive.
I really like that Cam's adding some secondary playmaking the last few years too. Up to 15.8% Ast rate this season.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
For those wanting both Cam and Jonas we could make work if we can get the picks situated.
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Joshyjosh31
Starter
We don’t have enough picks
Ya we don’t have a single elite shooter on the roster that’s not good
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
we do if we get creative. Cam isn’t going to get 2 firsts and Jonas is likely going for 2 seconds. We might even be able to buy seconds from a team like OKC
Joshyjosh31
Starter
I don’t see Monte being aggressive like that maybe he would do a Kuz/val move
ockingsfan
Starter
Agreed. I think Monte is going to look to move Huerter and 2nds for some depth pieces. Val/Kuz or Kelly Oubre would be good targets without selling the farm. Need to add quality depth at the wing and back up center so Doug can play 9-10 deep every night.
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twslam07
All-Star
I think the max I’d be willing to offer for Cam Johnson would be as follows…
Kevin Huerter
Trey Lyles
Colby Jones
Future SAC 1st (Protected 11-30 in 2026; otherwise, unprotected 2 years after the pick conveys to ATL)
2029 SAC 2nd
for
Cam Johnson
Day’Ron Sharpe
I’d rather give up one unprotected 1st vs. multiple 1sts as I’d hate to tie up more of our future 1sts and handcuff us from making future trades.
I’m also okay moving Lyles in this deal considering…
- I don’t see where his minutes would come from since DeRozan, Murray, and Johnson should all be getting 28+ minutes a game (and maybe even 30+ minutes a game). Not to mention we’ll probably want to carve out some minutes for 3 guard lineups to get Carter on the floor more. That basically leaves no forward minutes for Lyles.
- We’re upgrading our backup C. We’ll want use the majority of those backup C minutes (if not, all of them) to play Sharpe. Again, I don’t see many minutes for Lyles here.
- We’d be able to stay under the luxury tax
We’d have a really solid 9 man rotation after this trade…
Fox
Monk
Ellis
Carter
DeRozan
Johnson
Murray
Sabonis
Sharpe
…with a minutes distribution of…
PG - Fox (34) / Monk (14)
SG - Monk (16) / Ellis (26) / Carter (6)
SF - DeRozan (30) / Johnson (12) / Carter (6)
PF - Murray (30) / Johnson (18)
C - Sabonis (34) / Sharpe (14)
Fox = 34 min
Sabonis = 34 min
Monk = 30 min
DeRozan = 30 min
Johnson = 30 min
Murray = 30 min
Ellis = 26 min
Sharpe = 14 min
Carter = 12 min
Part of me would like to see a starting lineup of Fox, Ellis, Johnson, Murray, & Sabonis as that adds more size, length, defense, & shooting at SG and SF. If Murray could return to being a 40%+ 3PT shooter, Fox & Sabonis would have three high volume 40%+ 3PT shooters around them who are either average (Johnson) or great (Ellis & Murray) defenders. Then you have the best 6th and 7th man combo in the league (Monk & DeRozan) that would come in a wreck opposing teams 2nd units.
I doubt that type of lineup shakeup happens this year, but perhaps it’s something that is explored/considered next year (or maybe, at the very least, one of Monk or DeRozan are moved to the bench in favor of Ellis or Johnson).
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Yeah, same boat. Don't touch the top 7 and only 1 FRP. Whatever iteration that ends up being, I'm good with acquiring Cam.
Sharpe's been on my radar for a bit now too. He's not quite the level of a "Hartenstein/Vanderbilt/Naz", but he's pretty close and I think he'd be an excellent back-up C. Elite rebounder, has become an excellent big passer (14% the last 2 seasons). I'd be curious why his efficiency has fallen off a cliff this year, but might just be a weird blimp.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
I wonder what his market will be in the offseason given he is a free agent. I didnt look but I’d assume we would have some rights to him if we did make a trade.
Yeah, you'd keep his RFA rights, which is nice.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
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De'Anthony Melton is a better NBA player than Cam Johnson. Yeah I said it. He's injured right now so he's not a trade target (except as salary filler) but he's also going to be cheap to sign as a free agent which illustrates the problem I have with any of these trades for Cam. I don't think Cam Johnson is worth his contract for what his role would be on the Kings.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
I’d say Cam’s value has been inflated a bit because of his role with the Nets and he certainly won’t put up those numbers with us. I still would do a trade if it’s for 1 first rounder but I would be out if it requires two. I’d like to see the kings reduce starter minutes substantially and quality depth is important. I’ll be glad when the deadline passes
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
would be a good consolation prize if we don’t make a trade. Only those below the aprons can sign buyouts making more than the midlevel. OKC, Kings and who else among playoff contenders?
Jdbraver137
Bench
I think this gets you JV and Kuz. I don’t see this netting Cam.
Jdbraver137
Bench
He would be a good target if we didn’t have Carter or Keon.l, but we need a wing.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Not all 3's are equal, if you want to win in the playoffs pull up shooting is the way. Cam has been good, but he doesn't take many. Cam is having a ton of stuff run for him with the Nets, it would be hard for the Kings to run a lot of that now with some of the talent they have. Keegan kind of taking a backseat is your guide. This team with DDR, Fox, and Monk is more in line with the teams that make it far in the playoffs offensively. Running more DHO would be a gamble that if it paid off the same way it did the first go around you likely aren't getting to a game 7 depending on the opponent.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
the Nets want 2 picks for Cam, I’m not sure any team bites but we should know soon
Jdbraver137
Bench
They aren’t giving him away for free. If we don’t give picks we have to give Carter or better. I’d rather keep Carter and gamble on Kuz, than give up Carter for Cam.
Cleveland is on a 70 win pace and owes three FRP to Utah still. How would they land Cam and at what cost?
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Exactly, and beyond that your SF is named DeMar DeRozan. Maybe you eventually look to alter your SG position if the magic dust wears off and you need a defender but making a huge gamble of altering your starting lineup and pushing your best playoff bet in DDR out of position for more offense should be off the table until further notice. Not to mention the crossover of Cam and Keegan. If Keegan is struggling at times to find shots, it might now create a situation where Keegan is fighting another player for DHO's yet again, you know, kind of like he did with Huerter at one point because neither one of these guys can feed themselves consistently? If the Kings add, it needs to be in players that put an imprint on the game via defense, rebounding, hustle, etc. Not having long drawn out screen sets that tend to fade come playoff time anyway.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Yeah, Monte appears to have set the same bar as other teams, no good young talent. Honestly two picks are better than a player that dropped in a decent draft who was a lottery pick that is already putting up big man level productivity per 36. Especially one that looks to have potential on the ball which is where the money is at these days.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
The ball will always be in our big fours hands there’s no pull up threes available for anyone buy them
They’re rookie is allegedly good
Joshyjosh31
Starter
lol Cam Johnson being compared to Melton
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Yeah, and they'll likely be taking them, so, where's the offense coming from? We saw a glimpse a few years ago already come playoff time. I'd use that as a lesson if I were Monte before he goes and puts value on something that might end up being a spot shooter. There wasn't room for Huerter and Keegan and that was with Barnes being a 3rd wheel. DeRozan and Monk would be overkill.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
they could trade Okoro and Lavert a ‘26 first and they have 2 first rounders in ‘28 so they could move one of those.
