Nets hope to retain restricted free agent Cam Johnson but will face some competition
A few notes as we approach Thursday’s NBA Draft and the offseason:
Brooklyn has two first-round picks (No. 21 and No. 22) and a second-round pick (51). So they can start to shape their 2023-24 roster on Thursday night. But the biggest decision facing the Nets this offseason is still a few days away.
Next Friday at 6 p.m., Brooklyn will begin negotiating a new contract with restricted free agent Cam Johnson. Nets GM Sean Marks said in April that the club wants Johnson back.
“Cam knows how we feel. We hope he’s back,” Marks told reporters.
The Nets acquired Johnson from Phoenix ahead of this season's deadline in the Kevin Durant trade. It would be surprising if they lost Johnson to restricted free agency.
People tracking Johnson’s free agency expect the Nets to offer Johnson a four-year deal worth north of $84 million in total.
Another team with cap space could force the Nets to match a higher offer, of course. Marc Stein noted that Detroit will have interest in Johnson and several reports have stated Houston will also have interest.
Whether it’s Detroit or Houston, those tracking Johnson’s free agency believe at least one team will make a hard push to sign Johnson to an offer sheet and force the Nets to match an expensive offer.
If the Nets can retain Johnson, they have two players under 28 (Johnson and Mikal Bridges) locked in for several seasons. That would give them a strong place to start to build another contender following the utter disappointment of the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving era.
Worth noting: Johnson’s salary could have tax implications for Brooklyn, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks writes in his essential offseason guide. But there are avenues for Brooklyn to avoid certain tax thresholds and reduce their tax bill.
As far as Thursday's draft, people briefed on the matter say the Nets have been impressed by Leonard Miller, Colby Jones and Ben Sheppard during the pre-draft process. I assume they have been impressed by dozens of prospects over the past few weeks, but those are names to watch if the Nets make their picks or trade back on Thursday night.
