Brooklyn traded away Mikal Bridges in the summertime and Dennis Schroder earlier this week.
However they weren’t the one Nets drawing curiosity across the league.
And Cam Johnson gave one other reminder why he’s garnered probably the most curiosity.
Whereas league sources say nothing seems imminent and the Nets aren’t a lot making calls as taking them, Johnson is the participant NBA personnel really feel would fetch the very best return.
Within the meantime, he’s talked with GM Sean Marks and coach Jordi Fernandez and is specializing in the duty at hand.
“I think that’s a given,” Johnson advised The Publish. “We’ve communicated that: Be the place your toes are. I feel what the conversations have been is, ‘Hey, we’ll come to you with something that we have to come to you with. And in case you have any questions, our doorways are open to come back discuss to us.’ And that’s the place it’s.
“I think the understanding is, don’t get caught up in things that we can’t control or things that are off the court when we have so much to worry about on the court.”
The Nets have loads of worries, however Johnson isn’t one.
He’s averaging 19.2 factors on 48.9/43.1/87.4 capturing splits, all profession highs.
That 3-point share is fifth amongst gamers who’ve tried at the least 150.
Johnson has expanded his recreation partly on account of having a wholesome offseason to broaden his repertoire and partly on account of getting used otherwise beneath Fernandez.
“One, I do feel that I improve on a season-to-season basis, and I work to do that. I’m not just trying to maintain, be the same player I’ve always been,” Johnson advised The Publish. “The cool factor is if you’re in numerous conditions, you get to return and watch the movie, get to study from totally different conditions and perceive the place pictures come from, the place passes come from, how defenses react. It simply goes into your psychological playbook, and also you’re in a position to work on ability outdoors of video games, in summers and practices, post-practice, pre-practice, throughout apply, and achieve this with the data of what you’ve seen on the courtroom earlier than.
“Then obviously just being in a situation where it’s more expected. I’ve been known to be a role player in my years, being able to guard different positions and be a wing shooter. … I just want to be a part of winning basketball and contribute in the best way I can. Naturally, roles evolve and grow and change, so I just try to embrace that and take the knowledge I’ve learned and try to just be a better player.”
Johnson has by no means been a greater participant than he was in Thursday’s win at Toronto. He had 33 factors — 15 within the fourth quarter — 10 boards and a career-high six assists.
“He creates a lot of attention because he moves, and teams have to guard him,” Fernandez mentioned. “You get other guys open just because of his ability to get himself open and move around and screen and run off screens.”
Johnson, averaging 24.2 factors over his previous six video games, has improved this yr working off screens however is extra environment friendly off handoffs and cuts as effectively.
“I feel the transition. I get the ball in my hands a little more, and I’m able to playmake a little more in different actions,” Johnson mentioned. “A variety of it’s because of the nature of the actions we run and the way I issue into that. Attempting to make use of ball stress and gravity to my benefit and releasing up all people else. … So it’s totally different, however it doesn’t really feel odd, awkward or something like that. I like to hoop. I like going on the market and enjoying, and I simply need to win, on the finish of the day. So I’ll do no matter it takes.
“Sometimes in my career, that’s been sitting in the corner a little bit more and looking for opportunities and playing off some really good players. And sometimes, it’s been a little more active with the ball. For me, it’s just continuing to get better every day, no matter what my role is on the court, and continue to find ways to contribute to winning basketball.”
