The Nets’ incredible win over the Blazers underscores why a Cam Johnson trade should be inevitable

Many expected Brooklyn Nets to have a clear agenda going into Tuesday’s match with Portland Trail Blazers. As has been the case for much of this season, Cam Johnson had a different one.

The Nets entered the game on a five-game losing streak in which their offense was last. However, Johnson returned from an ankle injury in Portland and brought his team back to life during a 132-114 blowout. The veteran wing scored a game-high 24 points in his first game since Jan. 2 in Milwaukee, Brooklyn’s most recent victory.

Many NBA teams are approaching the point in the season where there are games they cannot afford to lose. In the case of the Nets, there are games they can’t afford to win. With the Blazers a half-game behind for sixth in the lottery standings, Tuesday was one of them.

However, Johnson and other Brooklyn players disagreed with that sentiment.

“I’m proud of the boys. We value these victories and will continue to do so,” Johnson said after the game.

But players don’t tank; organizations work. Nets general manager Sean Marks almost admitted as much earlier this week.

“We’re building this for, hopefully, sustained success.” That’s what we want. We want to get there,” Marks said. “We will have to be systematic with some of the decisions we make.” And they may not always be aligned with winning the next game or investing the most talent.”

Marks’ comment prompted the Nets’ decision to bring Johnson and D’Angelo Russell back from injuries against the Blazers. The win shows why, after trading Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith, the GM has more work to do if Brooklyn hopes to achieve its draft goals.

Trading Johnson should be his next move.

Why the Cam Johnson trade should be the Nets’ next deal

Johnson has been Brooklyn’s most consistent player and one of the best wings in the NBA this season. He averaged a career-high 19.6 points per game on 50/43/90 shooting. His shooting, leadership and composure were vital to the team’s offensive success.

The Nets are 0-7 in games Johnson has missed. When he plays, they are 14-19, a 35-game winning streak that has left Brooklyn on the outside looking in for the top pick.

Tuesday’s win dropped the Nets to seventh place in the lottery tablewhere they would have a 32.0 percent chance at a top-four pick and a 7.5 percent chance at the No. 1 pick. After Marks paid a high price this summer to regain Brooklyn’s first-round pick from the Houston Rockets, falling outside the top five, potentially even as low as seventh or eighth would be a significant disappointment.

With two years remaining on Johnson’s $21.5 million per year contract, the Nets don’t need to trade him. At 28, he’s young enough to be a part of the team’s next era if they try to make a move toward contention this summer. However, it is unlikely that his trade value will ever be higher than it is now.

League executives have marked Johnson as one of the NBA’s most sought-after players in the midst of his best season of his career. The Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, among other teams, have checked into the forward’s availability. League sources told ClutchPoints that the Nets are seeking multiple first-round picks in the trade.

Trading Johnson now would not only allow Brooklyn to cash in on top value, but would be a significant step toward bolstering its most prized asset: this year’s first-round pick.

Coincidentally, Wednesday marks another significant day in the NBA trade season. Eighteen free agents were signed this offseason, leading to the lifting of trade restrictions, making 96 percent of the league eligible for a trade.

With the deadline in three weeks, trade speculation will intensify in the coming days. If the Nets hope to maximize their chances for a top draft pick, Johnson’s deal should come sooner rather than later.