The Nets fell to 0-9 with out Cam Johnson this season following Friday’s 102-101 highway loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. When he isn’t within the lineup, it’s protected to say Brooklyn is cooked.
Friday marked Johnson’s second straight absence. He was listed as questionable getting into Sunday’s matchup towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder due to a proper ankle sprain. The ahead has missed eight of the Nets’ final 9 video games as an entire. His lone look over that stretch was Tuesday’s 132-114 defeat of the Portland Path Blazers, the place he scored a team-high 24 factors in 27 minutes.
To this point this season, Brooklyn has an offensive score of 112.4 with Johnson on the courtroom and 104.2 with him off. He’s the group’s finest scorer, except for a wholesome Cam Thomas, and its finest ground spacer. When he’s not on the market, the drop-off in manufacturing is obvious as day.
“Obviously Cam is extremely important for us, not just because he catches and shoots, but also his movement, and also because he can play off the dribble and make the right plays,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned.
“Look at Ziaire [Williams], he shot nine [3-pointers],” Fernandez mentioned. “Noah [Clowney], seven of them. [D’Angelo Russell] 10. Jalen Wilson was 3-for-4. So, that’s what we’re trying to do, create the right shots. When you shoot almost 45% from 3 it’s always a good shooting night.”
Johnson has appeared in 33 of the Nets first 40 video games this season, and whereas his availability has been restricted in latest weeks, he’s nonetheless having the perfect season of his skilled profession. He’s averaging 19.6 factors, 4.2 rebounds and three.0 assists whereas taking pictures 49.9% from the sphere, 42.8% from deep and 89.7% from the free throw line.
Whether or not he performs or not, it seems his worth throughout the league stays at an all-time excessive.
Quite a few groups have reportedly inquired about Johnson’s companies forward of the Feb. 8 commerce deadline, together with Oklahoma Metropolis, Indiana, Sacramento, Cleveland and others, however normal supervisor Sean Marks is just not concerned with handing out reductions.
The Nets are reportedly looking for two first-round picks, or equal worth, in alternate for Johnson. No matter group lands him must pay up.
