The Los Angeles Lakers will be on the lookout all season for potential upgrades on the market after a quiet summer which saw Dalton Knecht be the only rotational addition they made to their roster.
Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is considered to be available in trade conversations for the right price, especially with the 5-9 Nets expected to tank this season.
The Lakers have been rumored to be interested in adding Johnson to the roster, but Lakers insider Jovan Buha is concerned that a potential Cam deal could see the team part with Rui Hachimura.
“Could he be at a similar level to Rui? I think so. They’re different physically, Rui is a better post defender, a bit stronger, and better suited to defend bigs. Cam Johnson is a little quicker on the perimeter but I think Cam has played better than Rui this season overall.”
“Cam would be a great fit with the Lakers. If there’s a way to keep Rui in a Cam Johnson deal, I’d be really interested. If the price for Cam is Rui, you could talk me into it but I’m not sold… I’m not sure Cam is that much of an upgrade depending on the Draft capital required.”
Hachimura is making $17 million this season while Johnson is making $23.6 million, so the Lakers would have to add another salary in a potential deal that sees Hachimura go to Brooklyn and Johnson come to LA.
While the Lakers’ primary need has been for a big man, the team’s fledgling offense and poor three-point shooting have raised the need for a wing scorer who can stretch the floor at a high level.
Johnson fits that, averaging 16.9 points and 4.2 rebounds on 38.1% from three on 7.5 attempts per game so far. But Hachimura has been a crucial wing component for the Lakers as well, averaging 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 50% from three on a low volume of 3.6 attempts per game.
The ideal solution for the Lakers would be to try and use D’Angelo Russell’s expiring $18.6 million contract along with a young star like Max Christie to provide the Nets some future upside.
A first-round pick will likely be a non-negotiable inclusion, so giving up Hachimura for Johnson might improve the Lakers’ scoring but increase the defensive load for LeBron in the frontcourt without Hachimura’s ability to be physical in the post as well as the perimeter. Johnson can’t replicate that, which could open up other problems for an already-porous Lakers defense.
Ultimately, it seems whatever price the Lakers pay for Johnson could be a little steep when you compare it to what they need and what the Nets would want to part with him.
It might be better for the Lakers to consider a move for Dorian Finney-Smith instead, as the 3-and-D forward would cost less than Johnson as a lower-volume scorer but can help stretch the floor while keeping the Lakers solid defensively.
Hachimura has played himself into being a pivotal part of JJ Redick’s Lakers, even if his offensive consistency can fluctuate from game to game.
A Cam Johnson trade would fit the Lakers like a glove, but the price of draft capital and picks might be too steep for this franchise who have more problems than just wing scoring.
