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I know that lots of Nets fans are looking forward to the Tank Cam-manders Thomas and Johnson leading our offense next season. I am not.

I know that Thomas can go off for 30, but teams know that his defense is bad and he doesn't bring much else to the table. I don't want to give him a platform to go out and average 26ppg on a horrible team, and then demand a near-max extension. I just don't believe a team can build around him to win, not without ready-made 2-way stars in place.

As for Johnson, people say he can increase his value in a featured role, but I don't think he's built like that. His on ball deficiencies magnify in a larger role, and his efficiency plummets. I would rather move him now.

What do you think of this proposal?

https://fanspo.com/nba/trades/onX7NzzNqKFIHx

BRK trades Johnson/Thomas/Sharpe for Lopez/Russell/JHS/29LAL1st/31LAL1st/31MIL1st

LAL trades Russell/JHS/29LAL1st/31LAL1st for Thomas/Sharpe

MIL trades Lopez/31MIL1st for Johnson

Our depth chart would look something like this:

Schröder, Russell, DFS, Clowney, Claxton
JHS, Whitehead, Wilson, Simmons, Lopez

If the Nets do make a deal, I think DFS should be the first one sent out as he is essentially on an expiring deal and rumors are that he is generating some level interest. Those rumors specifically mention the Cavaliers too. If he is sent to the Cavaliers, a name I'd like to see come back to the team would be Craig Porter Jr. When Garland and Mitchell both missed time this past regular season, Porter was very productive in his minutes. He is also in a great contract at under $3M a season for the next three years, and he is only 24 years old. Just a name worth mentioning in my opinion as he would be a solid role player off the bench for the foreseeable future and is young enough to even stick through the rebuild.

ecuhus1981 wrote:I know that lots of Nets fans are looking forward to the Tank Cam-manders Thomas and Johnson leading our offense next season. I am not.

I know that Thomas can go off for 30, but teams know that his defense is bad and he doesn't bring much else to the table. I don't want to give him a platform to go out and average 26ppg on a horrible team, and then demand a near-max extension. I just don't believe a team can build around him to win, not without ready-made 2-way stars in place.

As for Johnson, people say he can increase his value in a featured role, but I don't think he's built like that. His on ball deficiencies magnify in a larger role, and his efficiency plummets. I would rather move him now.

What do you think of this proposal?

https://fanspo.com/nba/trades/onX7NzzNqKFIHx

BRK trades Johnson/Thomas/Sharpe for Lopez/Russell/JHS/29LAL1st/31LAL1st/31MIL1st

LAL trades Russell/JHS/29LAL1st/31LAL1st for Thomas/Sharpe

MIL trades Lopez/31MIL1st for Johnson

Our depth chart would look something like this:

Schröder, Russell, DFS, Clowney, Claxton
JHS, Whitehead, Wilson, Simmons, Lopez

I am a bigger fan of Cam Thomas than most on this board, so for this season (at a minimum) I would like to keep him on the team and give him the keys to the offense this season.

1.) He's only 22 (turning 23 during the season), which is still incredibly young. Dalton Knecht, the Lakers first round choice last month is actually older than Cam.

2.) Cam has also improved in every season he's been in the league. I can't see any reason why that wouldn't repeat itself this season.

3.) I know it doesn't matter, but another point is he was drafted by the team originally. This is just one fan's opinion, but it is always nice to be able to root for a home-grown player and watch him succeed. I mean even with the tank, the team still wants to sell tickets.

4.) As far as his contract, if he doesn't receive an extension before next off-season, he will be a restricted free agent. I know he'll obviously get a raise, but with the nets ability to match any contract he can potentially receive, I think they are in the driver's seat. Plus, with the new CBA rules and the money thrown around the last couple of years, I don't believe there would even be a lot of teams that would be in a position to offer him a substantial contract. And even if some team did have the money AND was willing, AND the Nets did not watch to match, I'm sure they could negotiate a sign-and-trade to receive some draft assets back.

But those are just my opinions on Cam Thomas. As far as your trade idea, I love the value coming back for the nets in the form of expirings, future firsts, and a young guy, but I can't really see the Lakers or Bucks doing it. Unfortunately, I believe the Lakers would only trade both of these future firsts for a big name, established player. More veteran type players like Jerami Grant or Brandon Ingram, not Cam Thomas and a back-up center. I don't see the bucks trading Brook without getting some kind of big man in return, as that would leave them precariously thin in the big man department after Giannis and Portis. And I'm also not sure how willing the bucks would be to give up a future first rounder (unless it was for a star player) with the way their team is currently constructed, as Dame, Brook, Middleton, and Giannis will all be 30 or older by the time 2024 is over.

hard pass. just dont think it's good value or achieves anything strategic. accumulating young assets with upside is the name of the game. not just accumulating future picks.

I don't think we get enough back for Thomas and Sharpe in this deal.

A couple of points...

There does seem to be a lot interest on these boards for Cam Johnson. Ecuhus is more than likely right about Cam J. It might make no difference if he gets a bigger role as far as adding value. If we went until the deadline his value might not go up and could actually go down if injured.

All signals are pointing to Cam Thomas becoming Jerry Stackhouse Du Jour of the 24-25 season. Which isn't a good thing or a bad thing considering our circumstances. We still need to keep the fans interested, the kids who buy the Jerseys and shout out the players name when they themselves are on their courts hooping. Speaking for my younger self, I gravitated more to the flashy scorers and it took a while to appreciate the Shawn Marions of the league.

Let's see if Cam Thomas is working hard in the lab this off season and also if the coaching change makes a difference. +1 on his youth being a factor on holding him.