Brooklyn traded Mikal Bridges in the summer and Dennis Schroder earlier this week.
But they weren't the only Nets drawing interest from around the league.
And Cam Johnson once again reminded us why he's the most interesting.
League officials say nothing seems imminent and the Nets are more of a phone call than they are, but Johnson believes NBA officials will get the best return. He is a player he is thinking about.
In the meantime, he's been talking with general manager Sean Marks and coach Jordi Fernandez to focus on the task at hand.
“I think that makes sense,” Johnson told the Post. “We told them the following: Stay where your feet are. I think the conversation was, 'Hey, we'll bring you whatever you need.' Masu. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. ”That’s it.
“I think it’s about not getting caught up in things that are out of our control and things off the court when there are so many things to worry about on the court.”
The Nets have a lot of concerns, but not Johnson.
He is averaging 19.2 points on 48.9/43.1/87.4 shooting splits, both career highs.
This 3-point percentage ranks fifth among players with at least 150 attempts.
Johnson expanded his game, in part because he had a healthy offseason and expanded his repertoire, and also because he was used differently under Fernandes.
“One is that I feel like I'm improving every season and I'm working on that. I'm not just trying to maintain, I'm trying to be the same player I've always been. ” Johnson told the Post. “What's great is when you're put in different situations, you can go back and watch film and learn from different situations and understand where the shots are coming from, where the passes are coming from, how the defense is going to react. Just by getting that into your head, you can work on improving your skills outside of the game, during the summer, during practice, after practice, before practice, during practice, etc. based on the knowledge you saw in the game. The court in front of it.
“And obviously, it's just in a situation where it's more expected. I've been known as a role player for many years and have been able to guard a variety of positions and also be a wing shooter. I just want to contribute, and I want to contribute in the best way I can. Naturally, the role evolves, grows and changes, so I embrace it and use the knowledge I've learned. , I’m trying to become a better player.”
Johnson has never been as good as he was in Thursday's win over Toronto. He had 33 points (15 in the fourth quarter), 10 boards and a career-high six assists.
“He gets a lot of attention because he moves and the team has to protect him,” Fernandes said. “His ability to open himself up and move around and block screens and run away from screens allows him to open others up.”
Johnson, who averaged 24.2 points over the last six games, has improved this year in his off-screen runs, but he has also improved in efficiency with off-handoffs and cuts as well.
“I'm seeing a change. I'm able to get the ball in my hands a little more and be able to playmake a little more with different actions,” Johnson said. “A lot of it comes down to the nature of the activity we perform and how I consider it. I'm trying to use the pressure and gravity of the ball to my advantage and free up everyone else. …So, it's different, but I don't find it weird or awkward or anything like that. I love to hoop. I love to go out and play, and at the end of the day, I just want to win. That's why I'll do whatever it takes.
“Sometimes in my career I sat a little more in the corner and looked for opportunities and played with really good players. And sometimes I was a little more aggressive with the ball. Regardless of his role on the court, he continues to get better every day and continues to find ways to help win basketball.”
