Another day, another report that the Sacramento Kings are still interested in Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson. Here is what NBA Insider Brian Lewis wrote in a recent news dump for the New York Post:
""While the Kings, Magic and Lakers are interested, one recent report claimed the Spurs, Raptors or Warriors could be a '"dark horse.'""Brian Lewis, New York Post
And while I have certainly leaned into this possibility with some of my posts on this website, one must sit and wonder if trading for Johnson is even really worth it.
A trade for Johnson would likely require Kevin Huerter and a draft asset (my guess is that would be either a protected first round pick or a pair of seconds). But is Johnson really that much of an upgrade over Huerter to have to give up assets to get him?
What The Fans Think
As I tend to do with debatable questions like this, I asked the good people on Twitter (I refuse to call it "X") what their thoughts were on the situation. Fortunately, I was able to get a solid sample size (268 votes). Here is what they had to say:
Who would rather have for the next five years?
— Mat Issa (@matissa15) July 24, 2024
It appears that Kings Twitter thinks there is enough of a difference between the two to warrant making the trade, as about 84% of fans said they would rather have Johnson over Huerter.
What I Think
Personally, I'm not as convinced as the people voting on the Twitter poll seem to be about the matter. Yes, I think Johnson is a slightly bigger version (6'9 compared to Huerter, who is 6'7) of the same archetype (they are both movement shooters who leave a little bit on the table on defense). Johnson is also a little more expensive, but the extra size is usually worth the difference in their respective average annual values (see chart below).
Player Name | Current Contract Average Annual Value | Years Left on Contract |
|---|---|---|
Kevin Huerter | 16.3 million | 2 |
Cameron Johnson | 23.6 million | 3 |
My hesitation is that I'm not certain the difference between them is enough to justify giving up assets. Huerter is coming off a down year, but we've seen before that great shooters can have a down year or two littered in their illustrious careers as marksmen. If Huerter looks more like his 2022-23 self in 2024-25, I'm not sure that Johnson is that much of an upgrade over him (if he's even an upgrade at all).
Besides, even if Johnson is better, does swapping Huerter for him elevate the Kings to true contender status? Maybe, but probably not. At least, not more than a leap from Keegan Murray would.
Keegan Murray is one of the most important players to keep tabs on in the NBA next year.
— Mat Issa (@matissa15) July 23, 2024
If he takes a leap and reaches that OG Anunoby/Mikal Bridges level, it takes the Kings from a frisky team to a legit contender in the Western Conference.
I'm not completely opposed to a Johnson trade (I always respect a team trying to maximize their current core). But I lean toward the Kings keeping Huerter (and the assets), seeing if he has a bounce back, and then re-assessing the situation closer to the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.