Brooklyn Nets

Ben Simmons' time in Philadelphia ended on contentious and controversial terms back in 2022, but the Brooklyn Nets' forward still thinks fondly of Sixers' fans.

"I didn't appreciate the fans enough. The fans of Philadelphia are incredible," he said during a Thursday appearance on The Young Man and the Three podcast. "You always want to play for a team that has a good fanbase, whether they're booing or whatever. You just want fans to care. You want the arena packed. So just having that experience in Philadelphia was amazing. I'm so grateful to have played there and gotten to experience the city of Philly and know what it feels like to play for a team like Philly and play on a winning team. Winning in Philly is different. There's no place like it."

Simmons, 28, spent parts of six seasons with the Sixers to start his career, earning three All-Star bids while helping the team become a perennial playoff contender alongside star center Joel Embiid.

Things haven't worked out so well since he forced his way out of Philadelphia, however, as Simmons has played just 87 games in the past four seasons, largely due to injuries. And now the Nets find themselves in a full rebuild, a far cry from Simmons' contending days with the Sixers.

Kevin Durant returned to Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, when his Phoenix Suns beat the host Nets 108-84.

Before the game, Durant was asked about his time in Brooklyn from 2019-2023. It ultimately didn't work out even though the Nets formed a superstar big three with him and Kyrie Irving during 2019 free agency and then James Harden via trade in Jan. 2021.

KD referenced the "dysfunction" the team went through but respected and acknowledged the support fans gave the team.

"Even though we went through a lot of dysfunction, I guess you could call it, for lack of a better term," Durant said, per Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press, "but regardless of that, a lot of people in those stands still supported, still came out and cheered loud as hell for the game of basketball and for the Nets, so that's what stood out the most."

The fact of the matter is the trio never got to play much together at all, and that's why it didn't work out. When asked about it, Durant spoke the truth (h/t Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).

The trio only played 16 games together. Unsurprisingly, they did quite well.

The Nets' best chance to see the trio's success through for a championship was in 2020-21. They were together for all of 43 seconds in the second round of the NBA playoffs against the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, however, as Harden suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 and didn't return until Game 5. Kyrie Irving suffered a sprained ankle in Game 4 and missed the rest of the series.

Still, the Nets nearly pulled off the series win but fell in seven games, losing the decider in overtime, 115-111. The Bucks went on to win their first NBA title in 50 years.

All three suffered injuries during their time together, and then Irving missed a big chunk of the 2021-22 season after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine amid New York City's vaccine mandate. He returned for the team's 36th game in Jan. 2022, but Harden issued a trade request and was gone to the Philadelphia 76ers in a month or so.

And so a promising and hyped era ended with a thud. One year later, Irving was gone to the Dallas Mavericks, and Durant departed for the Suns, both via trade. Now the Nets are rebuilding, and Harden (now a Los Angeles Clipper), Irving and KD are trying to excel with their new teams.

It's easy to wonder what might have been in Brooklyn if the trio was able to play together. They played great basketball and were certainly capable of a championship run, especially given how much they pushed the Bucks despite being shorthanded. It ended without a title, though, leaving the "What if? question lingering over that era forever.

The Brooklyn Nets have been busy ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but that doesn't mean they will move Cam Johnson if they can't get the right price.

"Sources have said the Nets would be loath to move him for less than two first-round picks or the equivalent thereof," Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported Sunday. He also listed the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings as potential suitors, indicating there could eventually be a bidding war for the forward.

If there is, that only plays into Brooklyn's hands as it searches for multiple first-round picks in a potential deal.

As Lewis pointed out, the Nets have already made multiple trades involving seven players and seven second-round picks. Most notably, they shipped out Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder while also adding De'Anthony Melton and D'Angelo Russell.

They are also a logical seller at the deadline with a 14-28 record, but the timeline is different with Johnson compared to other potential rental pieces.

After all, there is not the immediate urgency to trade someone who is slated for free agency since he is under contract through the 2026-27 season. He is also just 28 years old and could theoretically still be on the roster during the team's next competitive window.

And the front office could always trade him in future seasons if things don't turn around on the court.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday that the team doesn't feel it has to trade Johnson at this point.

Still, Johnson's value figures to be quite high this season given his level of play. He is averaging 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from deep.

That three-point shooting would fit in well on almost any contender with a star player who draws defenders in, and Johnson can also guard multiple positions on the defensive side if needed.

Whether a team will see that as worth multiple first-round picks remains to be seen, but that is reportedly what the Nets are looking for at a minimum.

Having already embraced the tank by dealing away Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Brooklyn Nets have one more major chip to play before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, Cam Johnson is viewed as the player most likely to be dealt before the deadline by people around the NBA with the Nets having turned all of their attention toward accumulating as many future draft assets as possible.

There was some concern earlier this season that Nets players were ruining the team's plan of potentially landing a franchise player in the 2025 draft by winning too many games. They were 9-10 through 19 games after rattling off a three-game winning streak from Nov. 24-27.

Since Schröder was traded to the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 15, the Nets have lost 12 of their last 16 games. Finney-Smith was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 29.

The nadir of Brooklyn's season, at least to this point, came on Wednesday with a 126-67 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 59-point margin was the most-lopsided defeat in franchise history.

Johnson's value stems from being one of the few quality wing players on the market, in addition to having a relatively team-friendly contract. The 28-year-old is signed through 2026-27 with salaries of $20.5 million and $22.5 million over the next two years after this season.

The Athletic's Joe Vardon noted the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the teams that have interest in Johnson as they seek more help on the perimeter after losing to the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder this week.

One league executive told Bontemps and Windhorst that the Nets' asking price for both Johnson and Nic Claxton "is high" and they are telling interested teams they don't feel like they have to move either one right now.

"But if they're helping them win games, they'll trade them or put them on the bench," the executive added.

Johnson is in the midst of the best season of his career. He's averaging 19.6 points on 49.9 percent shooting (42.8 percent from three) with 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in 33 starts.

The Nets currently have the seventh-worst record in the NBA at 14-27. Their average scoring differential of minus-7.1 points per game is ahead of only the Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards.

The 13-25 Brooklyn Nets appear well on their way to a second straight losing season, which would have any squad dreaming of a brighter future.

And the Nets are reportedly dreaming of Giannis Antetokounmpo in that future.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday that sources around the league believe Antetokounmpo is Brooklyn's "dream target" and a possible landing spot should he ever request to leave the Milwaukee Bucks.

But that request hasn't come.

"Reminder: Someday depends on Antetokounmpo pushing the Bucks to trade him," Stein wrote. "... Something he has shown no known inclination to do. There remains zero expectation that the Bucks would even consider the notion of trading Antetokounmpo unless he pushed for it."

Antetokounmpo is under contract with the Bucks through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28. He already has a championship on his resume and is the major reason the team has been among the Eastern Conference's top contenders since Milwaukee selected him in the 2013 NBA draft.

Still, it is fair to wonder about the Bucks' long-term ceiling.

After all, Damian Lillard is 34 years old, Khris Middleton is 33 years old and Brook Lopez is 36 years old. The team is focused on the present but may not be in the best position to challenge for championships after Antetokounmpo's current contract expires.

Perhaps the eight-time All-Star will one day request a trade if that future becomes cloudier.

If he does, the Nets might be waiting.

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly seeking more for small forward Cameron Johnson than the six second-round picks they received in trades involving Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's NBA Insiders.

The 28-year-old checks off three major boxes for potential playoff teams, per ESPN's NBA Insiders:

1. He plays a position of importance and need.
2. He is under a team-friendly contract over the next three seasons ($22.5 million, $20.5 million and $22.5 million).
3. He is enjoying a career year, averaging 19.5 points on 49.6 percent shooting from the field and 43.6 percent from beyond the arc.

However, one challenge for teams restricted by the salary-cap threshold is Johnson's $4.5 million in unlikely bonuses.

"For example, a trade with Golden State would involve Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Brandin Podziemski and a 2026 top-eight-protected first match in salary," ESPN's NBA Insiders reported. "However, because bonuses count toward the apron, the trade is not legal."

The Nets' previous trades have also influenced their perspective on Johnson's value.

Brooklyn traded Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks. Additionally, the team sent Schröder and a second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in return for De'Anthony Melton, Reece Beekman and three second-round picks.

Despite the challenges, Johnson remains highly sought on the trade market and has been linked to several teams including the Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Stein previously reported the Nets were "seeking multiple first-round picks" in exchange for Johnson, but it appears his trade value has increased as the Feb. 6 deadline approaches.

Potential trade suitors for Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson include the Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

The Grizzlies are "frequently mentioned" by league sources as a potential destination for Johnson, according to Stein.

After the Nets dealt Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers rather than completing a deal with Memphis, however, Stein noted it is "unclear how eager the Grizzlies are to return to the trade table."

Stein called the Pacers "a team to watch" regarding a Johnson trade, while confirming that the Kings have discussed a potential trade with the Nets.

The Kings are not currently including rookie guard Devin Carter in these talks, according to Stein.

Johnson has upped his trade value by averaging a career-high 19.5 points per game through 32 starts for the Nets. Brooklyn could look to cash in by moving him ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

Stein has previously reported that the Nets are "said to be seeking multiple first-round picks" in exchange for Johnson.

After both Finney-Smith and former Nets guard Dennis Schröder exited the team in exchange for multiple second-rounders, Stein expressed doubt that the Nets would be able to collect that haul.

Reported interest from teams across the league, however, could potentially help drive up Johnson's trade cost ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel recently reported that the Grizzlies, Kings and Lakers along with the Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors have all called the Nets about a potential trade for Johnson this season.

Siegel also mentioned the Pacers alongside the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat as "potential suitors for Johnson."

The Grizzlies could potentially include former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in a deal for Johnson. There is speculation Memphis has turned down trade offers for Smart in the hopes of eventually sending him to Brooklyn, according to Siegel.

The Athletic's Sam Amick confirmed that Sacramento has had "extensive talks" regarding Johnson.

Trade talks could potentially hit a road block if the Nets seek Carter in return. According to Stein, the Kings "value Carter highly."

The Pacers could also look to get in the mix for Johnson in order to improve their defense over the second half of the season. The franchise could look to send out some combination of Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin's contracts in the deal.

With so many teams reportedly interested in Johnson, the Nets will look to take the price of this bidding war as high as possible before making a decision ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is reportedly a hot commodity leading up to the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Johnson has "many" suitors, although the Nets have made it clear to interested teams that it will cost a "steeper price" to acquire Johnson than it did for the Golden State Warriors to land Dennis Schröder and the Los Angeles Lakers to obtain Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Nets reportedly plan on trying to sign or trade for a star during the offseason and view Johnson as an important piece to that puzzle in that he could either be part of a trade for a star or be a quality complementary piece alongside said star.

Given that Johnson is under contract through the 2026-27 season, the Nets don't have to trade him, which is reportedly a big reason why the asking price is high.

The 28-year-old Johnson arrived in Brooklyn in February 2023 as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns.

Johnson's first full season with the Nets in 2023-24 was somewhat disappointing, as he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 three-pointers made per game, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.

He has bounced back in a big way this season, though, putting up a career-high 19.5 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 three-pointers made and 3.0 assists on 49.6 percent shooting from the floor and 43.6 percent shooting from deep.

Johnson has arguably been the Nets' best player this season, and he could be in line to put up even bigger numbers in the week leading up to the trade deadline now that Schröder and FInney-Smith are no longer on the team.

Although they are just 13-21, the Nets have exceeded expectations to some degree, as they are just two games out of the last postseason play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.

Johnson is a big reason why, and he could keep the Nets in contention if they don't trade him, even though Brooklyn is clearly in rebuilding mode and is looking ahead to next season and beyond.

It is easy to see why there is significant interest in Johnson, as he is among the most efficient three-point shooters in the NBA this season, and is doing it as a 6'8" power forward.

Johnson is a true floor stretcher who can open things up for other dangerous scorers or knock down shots when he is left open, and those skills would be hugely valuable to any contending team.

The Nets are apparently well aware of that, though, which is why any team who trades for him would likely have to part with a substantial package of draft picks and players.

While it is possible the Nets will receive an offer they can't refuse, they could just as easily keep him since having him in the fold to pair with an incoming star would likely make the transition from rebuilding to contending far quicker and smoother.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings are reportedly eyeing Brooklyn Nets small forward Cameron Johnson following blockbuster trades involving Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith, according to Michael A. Scotto of HoopsHype.

Johnson is having a career season across the board, averaging 19.1 points while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.

The Nets have been looking to get "multiple first-round picks" for Johnson, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. However, after the deals for veteran Schröder and Finney-Smith, Stein questions the plausibility of that happening.

"Can they really expect to get more than one first-rounder for Johnson after the deals just witnessed for (Dennis) Schröder and (Dorian) Finney-Smith?" Stein wrote.

Ahead of the 2025 season, it was believed around the league that Johnson would garner more than one first-round pick. With his contract extending through 2026-27 for $65.54 million in total, the Nets can be picky if not receiving the right offer or keep Johnson for the remainder of the season, per Scotto.

Emerging rumors circulated during the G League Showcase that the Thunder were interested in Johnson, with Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe eligible as potential trade partners in addition to a handful of future first-round picks, according to Scotto.

After firing head coach Mike Brown amid the Kings' lackluster 14-19 season, they have also shown interest in Johnson as they aim to keep De'Aaron Fox happy after he passed on his contract extension.

Johnson is likely to attract more trade discussions as the NBA trade deadline approaches on Feb. 6.

The Brooklyn Nets are seeking "multiple first-round picks" in return for Cameron Johnson, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein.

The asking price for the 28-year-old small forward, who is averaging 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists, may be too high in relation to other recent trades involving similar players.

"Can they really expect to get more than one first-rounder for Johnson after the deals just witnessed for (Dennis) Schröder and (Dorian) Finney-Smith?" Stein wrote.

The Los Angeles Lakers traded D'Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis to the Brooklyn Nets in return for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton the team announced on Sunday. The Lakers also sent three future second-round picks.

The Nets also traded away Schröder and a second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors, the team announced on Dec. 15, in exchange for De'Anthony Melton, Reece Beekman and three second-round picks.

Brooklyn has been shipping players off at a high speed and Johnson appears to be next on their list if teams can meet their demands.

Johnson, the No. 11 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, started off in Phoenix with the Suns, where he spent four seasons. He shot a career-high 45.5 percent from beyond the arc in his final season with the Suns during the 2022-2023 season.