Did the Nets make a error trading Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr.?
"The more I thought about it over the last five days, that's one of the worst trades of the decade," The Ringer's Bill Simmons said during an episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" along with co-host Ryen Russillo. Simmons and Russillo spent the podcast discussing teams with the bleakest outlooks over the next five years and the Nets were one of the teams talked about, partly because of Brooklyn trading forward Cam Johnson for Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.
"You have to catch a pick to get rid of Porter and I also didn't get anything for Cam Johnson. Nothing," Simmons continued. "When it happened, it was like just oh yeah, this makes sense and it's Cam Johnson. I love Cam Johnson way more than I like Porter Jr. for a bunch of reasons. Then, he costs half as much and you're like, what's the Cam Johnson trade if you're trying to acquire a good player," Russillo said.
To recap the full trade, the Nets traded Johnson to the Nuggets in exchange for Porter and a 2032 first-round pick, a pick that one NBA front office executive believes is a "prized" asset that Denver gave up. To Simmons' point, Porter, who has two years and $77 million left on his deal, was viewed as a player that teams wouldn't be happy to trade for due to the perception that his production doesn't match his contract.
Porter, 27, is coming off a 2024-25 season in which he averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 39.5% from three-point land in 77 games played. Porter made $35.8 million over the course of the season, making him the 35th highest-paid player or in other words, just outside of consideration of being an All-Star.
Johnson, 29, had the best season of his career as he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 39.0% from deep. Johnson made just $23.062 million over the course of the season, showing that he is a value on his contract due to how he was able to produce on a Nets team lacking many playmaking options.
Either way, one could argue that the Nets did not get enough for Johnson since Porter is viewed as a negative asset by some because of the money left on his contract. However, one could also argue that getting a distant first-round pick from a Nuggets where Nikola Jokic will be 37 years old along with a good player in Porter is more valuable than holding on to Johnson in the hopes of a better offer to come along at some point.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Did the Nets make a error trading Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr.?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
26 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
NBA veteran Max Strus returns to Stagg to recognize comeback of Oak Forest athlete
Max Strus was choked up. While giving a speech Thursday to end his fourth youth basketball camp at his alma mater, Stagg High School in Palos Hills, the NBA sharpshooter thanked his parents, John and Debra, and joked they were the reason he turned out 'perfect.' But when it came to thanking his 'role models,' his older sister, Maggie Sommer, and older brother, Marty Strus, his voice cracked, and he took a few seconds to compose himself. That show of emotion from the Cleveland Cavaliers guard was just the warmup of an even bigger outburst of emotions from the Castillo family. Oak Forest High School sophomore Paityn Castillo won the inaugural Gary Strong Award from the Max Strus Family Foundation for her fight with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which she suffered in October right after the volleyball season. The foundation, created in January, named the award after Gary Wimmer, the father of foundation official Jake Wimmer. Gary had a four-year battle with cancer before he died in August. Castillo faced paralysis and couldn't breathe on her own, so she needed a ventilator. She spent 98 days in a hospital and was told she might not walk again or get feeling back in her feet. Now, not only is she walking, she is learning to drive, participated at Oak Forest's volleyball camp, tried out and made the Lions South 16 club team and is jump serving. 'I have a new perspective on things,' Castillo said. 'I don't take things for granted and I appreciate the little things in life.' Strus said Castillo is the type of person the foundation wants to help. 'We want to find ways to help different communities, whether that's home around the South Side of Chicago, in Miami where I lived for three years or Cleveland now,' he said. 'These are places near and dear to my heart.' Castillo's story was shared in a five-minute video shown in the Stagg main gym in front of hundreds of campers and their parents. It showed some of the therapy she had to go through. Her father, Reggie, mother, Sandy, and sister, Kamryn, were on hand for the award and to receive a surprise $10,000 check from the foundation. There was plenty of emotion, especially with Reggie, who was crying when he addressed the crowd, and said he wasn't ashamed to be crying. 'I guarantee there weren't many dry eyes today,' Reggie said after the ceremony. Reggie said he was also touched because, between 2003 and 2023, he was an athletic trainer at Stagg and knows the Strus and Wimmer families well. Paityn started to walk in February and, given the severity of what she went through, her family was stunned with her 'It's been crazy,' Kamryn . 'It's hard to believe.' 'It's a miracle — it really is,' Reggie said. Sandy echoed that and said the family has ridden an emotional rollercoaster since October. 'It was hard watching the awful moments with her,' Sandy said. 'But watching her battle and work really, really hard is a highlight. She pushes so hard. When the ventilator went away, it was awesome.' Meanwhile, Strus is not only proud of his camps' philanthropy — raising more than $100,000 for the Andrew Weishar Foundation — he looks forward to being with the young basketball players who are trying to learn the sport. One camp official said Strus is the only player in the NBA who runs a camp and is there for all four days. Whether that's true, the fact is Strus is hands on at the camps and is not just lending his name to the project. In the past, he brought in some NBA chums, including Gabe Vincent. This year, Cavaliers Coach Kenny Atkinson came in for a session. Strus also takes photos with the campers and had some fun Thursday outside the school, handing out Peppo's Subs orders in a truck to campers and parents. When he started the camp, Strus talked about how special it was because he and Marty attended summer camps at the school. Four years, and one foundation, later, it's still special to him. 'I've seen a lot of new faces this year and some faces of those who have been here all four years,' he said. 'The campers and their parents make it all possible and I appreciate that. 'And we want to come back again next year.'
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Nets vs. 76ers summer league game preview: How to watch, lineups
The Brooklyn Nets (1-3) have not had the kind of performance in the Las Vegas Summer League that they were hoping for when the event started last week. In the grand scheme of things, Brooklyn not making it to the semi-finals is not what makes or breaks the summer league as the important part is evaluating the rookies from the 2025 NBA Draft. With that being said, the Nets will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday in the consolation round to end their time in Las Vegas and Brooklyn will most likely be looking to the players towards the end of the roster to see what they can do. Players like Drew Timme and Ben Saraf did not play in Wednesday's 94-90 win over the Orlando Magic for various reasons so it's possible that more players will be given the night off. The good news for Brooklyn is that three of the four rookies that were able to play, Drake Powell was unable to play due to injury, have had at least one game that showed what they can do. Saraf is the one rookie that has yet to have his breakout game in the way that Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and Danny Wolf have so if he is able to play, Saraf could end the summer league with a bang. Here's what you need to know to get ready for the game: How To Watch Probable Starting Lineups Brooklyn Nets Philadelphia 76ers Who To Watch Saraf has played in three of the four games that the Nets have played in Las Vegas and his best game in the summer was in a loss to the Knicks when he dropped 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 29 minutes of playing time. For the summer league, Saraf is averaging 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 30.4% from the field and 53.8% from the free-throw line. While Saraf's counting stats are fine considering that he has been playing in various roles on the team, his efficiency is the part that has been concerning during his time in Las Vegas. Saraf was regarded as the rookie in Brooklyn's 2025 class with the best mix of scoring and passing and to his credit, he has put both of those skills on full display when he has found the right opportunities. Saraf was rested for Wednesday's win over the Magic so it's possible that he is shut down for the last game of the summer league, but if he isn't, it would be important to see if he can put it altogether for one game. If Saraf can show that he can be an efficient player while putting the stats needed to show that he can be an impact player, that would go a long way to boosting his confidence ahead of the 2025-26 season.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Damian Lillard's return to Trail Blazers adds to NBA's list of notable homecomings
Damian Lillard announced yesterday he's going to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers, as he's cleared waivers and is now a free agent. Before he was traded to Milwaukee to try to compete for that elusive title, Portland was Lillard's home for the first 11 years of his NBA career. As he now rehabs an Achilles tear, he's headed to familiar territory on a reported three-year deal ($45 million) to be with the Blazers until he's 38 years old, if not longer. Advertisement Blazers fans are excited to see Lillard back in Portland again, and he seems enthused about returning. Returning to form after an Achilles injury in your mid-30s will be highly difficult, but not impossible. The vibes in the Pacific Northwest will be great, but it remains to be seen what Lillard will be on the court. RipCityyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!! @trailblazers — Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 17, 2025 Lillard's return had us wondering where this NBA reunion could rank among others. LeBron James' return to Cleveland, which led to the Cavaliers' first title in 2016, probably sits near the top, but these are some of the other candidates Lillard is up against. We'll use the Reunion Infatuation Zeitgeist Zone score (1-10) to judge them. Stevie Franchise spent the first five years of his career in Houston, earning all three of his All-Star selections as a Rocket. After three seasons away, Francis signed back with the Rockets but played only 10 games before surgery on a quad ended his season. He was eventually traded the next season to get under the luxury tax. Meh. RIZZ Score: 2. Pippen's first 11 seasons in Chicago resulted in six rings and a Hall of Fame resume. After five years away, a 38-year-old Pippen returned to Chicago for 23 games and averaged 5.9 points in 17.9 minutes. RIZZ Score: 2. After a little over 10 seasons, four scoring titles and an MVP award in Philadelphia, Iverson spent time with Denver and Detroit over the next three seasons. In 2009-10, he signed with the Grizzlies. He lasted three games coming off the bench before he was released and could sign back in Philly. In 25 games, he averaged 13.9 points and 4.1 assists in almost 32 minutes. It wasn't amazing, but not terrible. RIZZ Score: 6. The Hall of Fame point guard spent his first two and a half seasons in Dallas. More than a decade later, he spent four-plus back with the Mavs, which included being a key part of their championship in 2011. This return was a complete success story. RIZZ Score: 10. Iguodala did return to the Warriors in 2021-22 for his fourth title with the franchise after previously winning a questionable NBA Finals MVP in 2015. He was more mentor than contributor this time around, but a ring is a ring. RIZZ Score: 8. Big Ben spent six years in Detroit, winning four Defensive Player of the Year awards and that one remarkable title. After time in Chicago and Cleveland, he returned to the Motor City for the final three seasons of his career. The first year back was pretty solid, but he declined quickly after that. RIZZ Score: 7. Where do you think Lillard's return will land on this scale? Let us know! The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process. The story of the greatest players in NBA history.
