Cam Johnson to Spurs

[BrianInPhilly]

Made a thread yesterday saying Spurs should target Jimmy Butler .. Well I also think Cam Johnson is a terrific fit on the Spurs roster. Can be that shooting small ball 4' next to Wemby, but flexible to play the 3' also.

There's SEVERAL routes to go with a trade depending on what the Nets want.

1) IF Spurs get Butler with Barnes, Keldon Johnson & a few picks deal ... Well they can then can still trade for example Zach Collins, Tre Jones & couple picks for Cam Johnson
2) IF Nets balk at that, well they can add Champagne as a better piece, take out Tre Jones & add couple spare parts from bench (Wesley, Mamukelashvilli, etc.)
3) IF Nets balk at that, I'd consider trading Sochan as a more valuable piece and then asking for Clowney back (as a better PF fit next to Wemby off bench, better shooting potential than Sochan) ... So could be Collins, Sochan, picks for Cam Johnson & Clowney (possibly Champagne too if Nets require it)
4) IF Butler trade doesn't happen ... Well could simply do a Barnes & picks deal for Cam Johnson, or Keldon Johnson & Picks deal for Johnson

If #3 Option happens, Spurs would field a team with a real good 9-10 man unit in my opinion that can compete in a 2-3 year window, and they should still have a # of picks to use since Johnson/Butler won't require ALL of them:

Guards - Chris Paul, Vassell, Castle, Tre Jones (same as now)
Forwards - Butler, Cam Johnson, Champagne, Clowney
Center - Wemby, Bassey

Basically if I'm the Spurs, I see this as a great opportunity to get a legit shooting forward that should thrive w/ the other Spurs pieces. Question is would Nets accept just picks? Or if they want more, are they high on a guy like Sochan or Champagne to add value?

[louc1970]

I don’t think either really fit the timeline of the Spurs.

[BrianInPhilly]

I don’t think either really fit the timeline of the Spurs.

What is the timeline? Are they trying to win now or not?

Since you haven't elaborated, I assume you're suggesting they need to field a team that can complete for the entirety of Wemby's prime? The issue I have with that is that's gonna be like 15 years+ ... They don't need a team filled with 20 year olds as Wemby grows; you gotta have a mix of vets too. It's why Bucks went after Jrue Holiday when Giannis was entering his prime, & Celtics added him even later. They wouldn't be able to afford all the young 20 somethings anyhow. The only reason that works for OKC is they have a LEGIT young BIG 3 they drafted that can grow together. I don't think Wemby-Cassell-Vassell is a good enough Big 3 to just sit on your hands and watch them grow. Do you?

What is the alternative? That the Spurs are a play-in team this year and then do what, in the offseason trade picks & players for a guy like Cam Johnson? My thought process is why wait, do that right now while a guy who's available that fits your team perfectly.

[wemby]

I like Cam Johnson, but he's by far the most overrated player in the league right now. He's basically a moderately better Harrison Barnes (who Spurs got paid to take) on much higher usage, and he's not who will make Spurs a real contender for the next 5 years. Cam Johnson's valuation doesn't seem in line with the player he's been his entire career, this outlier half a season aside. So good player, but I'd look elsewhere at the price tag being discussed (no Sochan, no Champagnie, no multiple picks).

[Papi_swav]

yea but you need to elaborate on the picks part since that will be the main assets coming back to BK

[BrianInPhilly]

yea but you need to elaborate on the picks part since that will be the main assets coming back to BK

Well that would be a part of the negotiations - 2 or 3 1st rounders in general. I may be off on Johnson's "trade value" in either direction though, what you think Brooklyn is trying to get for him?

And to the other poster's point - No I am not saying Cam Johnson alone makes them a contender the next 5 years, but YES it would be a step. Again, if your argument is Cam Johnson isn't good enough - who is this better player they will magically acquire? I also agree Cam Johnson is a better Barnes, but don't see how that's a bad thing. Barnes has already regressed a ton this year and last, getting a younger version to fit in with the Spurs the next 2-4 years seems like a worthwhile move to me.

Is the argument being made Spurs should sit on their hands to use their picks for a bigger player in the offseason?

And also if anything trading for Cam Johnson actually could be a precursor to a bigger move since they can then use him as a trade piece for a bigger fish, as opposed to now they're limited to using Vassell/Castle really as centerpieces for a bigger move.

[Papi_swav]

yea but you need to elaborate on the picks part since that will be the main assets coming back to BK

Well that would be a part of the negotiations - 2 or 3 1st rounders in general. I may be off on Johnson's "trade value" in either direction though, what you think Brooklyn is trying to get for him?

And to the other poster's point - No I am not saying Cam Johnson alone makes them a contender the next 5 years, but YES it would be a step. Again, if your argument is Cam Johnson isn't good enough - who is this better player they will magically acquire? I also agree Cam Johnson is a better Barnes, but don't see how that's a bad thing. Barnes has already regressed a ton this year and last, getting a younger version to fit in with the Spurs the next 2-4 years seems like a worthwhile move to me.

Is the argument being made Spurs should sit on their hands to use their picks for a bigger player in the offseason?

And also if anything trading for Cam Johnson actually could be a precursor to a bigger move since they can then use him as a trade piece for a bigger fish, as opposed to now they're limited to using Vassell/Castle really as centerpieces for a bigger move.

Well the nets are trying to get as much picks as possible. Seeing that Bridges got 5 picks I see the Nets asking for 3 picks but I think in the end they'll get at least 2 picks for CamJ. And we're talking light protections here

[One_and_Done]

I doubt Spurs are paying enough to get him.

[wemby]

And to the other poster's point - No I am not saying Cam Johnson alone makes them a contender the next 5 years, but YES it would be a step. Again, if your argument is Cam Johnson isn't good enough - who is this better player they will magically acquire? I also agree Cam Johnson is a better Barnes, but don't see how that's a bad thing. Barnes has already regressed a ton this year and last, getting a younger version to fit in with the Spurs the next 2-4 years seems like a worthwhile move to me.

Is the argument being made Spurs should sit on their hands to use their picks for a bigger player in the offseason?

And also if anything trading for Cam Johnson actually could be a precursor to a bigger move since they can then use him as a trade piece for a bigger fish, as opposed to now they're limited to using Vassell/Castle really as centerpieces for a bigger move.

You're basically proposing that the Spurs go out and burn a significant portion of their assets in a player you admit is not a huge improvement over Harrison Barnes, just because you can't see a better player to trade for RIGHT NOW. Well, Spurs don't need to make a trade right now for a 4th or 5th option at best, when they're still lacking a true 2nd or 3rd option. Much less for the price mentioned here.

Is there a clear option available today? No, but there may be one tomorrow, next month, or next season. Spurs are already good and are going to get better with or without Cam Johnson, by simple virtue of internal growth, they'll be players in free agency, they have tons of picks to use or to move... they don't have to do anything right now just because. That's not the way they operate. Wemby just turned 21, I'm sure they'll want to improve but there are cheaper ways to do so, and when the time comes to pull out the big guns, rest assured it isn't going to be for a Cam Johnson type.

[OxAndFox]

And to the other poster's point - No I am not saying Cam Johnson alone makes them a contender the next 5 years, but YES it would be a step. Again, if your argument is Cam Johnson isn't good enough - who is this better player they will magically acquire? I also agree Cam Johnson is a better Barnes, but don't see how that's a bad thing. Barnes has already regressed a ton this year and last, getting a younger version to fit in with the Spurs the next 2-4 years seems like a worthwhile move to me.

Is the argument being made Spurs should sit on their hands to use their picks for a bigger player in the offseason?

And also if anything trading for Cam Johnson actually could be a precursor to a bigger move since they can then use him as a trade piece for a bigger fish, as opposed to now they're limited to using Vassell/Castle really as centerpieces for a bigger move.

You're basically proposing that the Spurs go out and burn a significant portion of their assets in a player you admit is not a huge improvement over Harrison Barnes, just because you can't see a better player to trade for RIGHT NOW. Well, Spurs don't need to make a trade right now for a 4th or 5th option at best, when they're still lacking a true 2nd or 3rd option. Much less for the price mentioned here.

Is there a clear option available today? No, but there may be one tomorrow, next month, or next season. Spurs are already good and are going to get better with or without Cam Johnson, by simple virtue of internal growth, they'll be players in free agency, they have tons of picks to use or to move... they don't have to do anything right now just because. That's not the way they operate. Wemby just turned 21, I'm sure they'll want to improve but there are cheaper ways to do so, and when the time comes to pull out the big guns, rest assured it isn't going to be for a Cam Johnson type.

This is spot on because you just know that a player is going to become available, a star player at that, that is going to include the Spurs as a destination to play with Wemby, but now they don't have enough assets because they blew them on CamJ.
San Antonio should be keeping an eye on the top echelon of players and the next star/superstar that becomes disgruntled they should jump on. Barring Fox, but I say that because of vested interest.

[louc1970]

I don’t think either really fit the timeline of the Spurs.

What is the timeline? Are they trying to win now or not?

Since you haven't elaborated, I assume you're suggesting they need to field a team that can complete for the entirety of Wemby's prime? The issue I have with that is that's gonna be like 15 years+ ... They don't need a team filled with 20 year olds as Wemby grows; you gotta have a mix of vets too. It's why Bucks went after Jrue Holiday when Giannis was entering his prime, & Celtics added him even later. They wouldn't be able to afford all the young 20 somethings anyhow. The only reason that works for OKC is they have a LEGIT young BIG 3 they drafted that can grow together. I don't think Wemby-Cassell-Vassell is a good enough Big 3 to just sit on your hands and watch them grow. Do you?

What is the alternative? That the Spurs are a play-in team this year and then do what, in the offseason trade picks & players for a guy like Cam Johnson? My thought process is why wait, do that right now while a guy who's available that fits your team perfectly.

I just don’t see SAS trading away any youth for a player of Johnson’s caliber.
With all of the draft picks they can build slowly. Bringing in seasoned vets that either have won or can mentor the youth (Paul/Barnes).
Johnson does not offer any of those attributes.