"How much help does Shai need": NBA fans disapprove of OKC Thunder’s reported pursuit of coveted trade candidate
Ahead of February's NBA Trade Deadline, the OKC Thunder have reportedly been linked to Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. According to a report from The Stein Line's Jake Fischer, Johnson is one of the players the OKC Thunder are targeting between now and the Feb. 6 deadline.
Johnson, who spent the first three and a half seasons of his career with the Phoenix Suns, landed in Brooklyn during the 2022-23 season.
Since then, he has continued to elevate his game and is currently averaging a career-high 19.2 points per game, along with 4.5 rebounds per game and a career-high 3.1 assists per game.
At the same time, the OKC Thunder have continued to prove themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA, posting a 22-5 record that currently sees them comfortably in first place in a competitive Western Conference.
NBA fans were quick to react to the news:
"How much help does shai need," - One fan wrote.
"Hell nah they want everybody," - Another added.
"Thunder want Joker too while they are at it?" - One added.
Others shared their insights:
"OKC has more than enough draft picks to make this trade work and Cam Johnson would fit in perfectly both now and in the future. They should pull the trigger and trade for him," - One wrote.
"If I was the Thunder, i would purposely trade for him and DFS just so no other western conference team can. They would win any potential bidding war with all the assets they have," - Another added.
"They tryna make a superteam man..." - One wrote
Considering Brooklyn has already parted ways with Dennis Schroder leading up to the trade deadline, and there have been whispers of Cam Thomas being traded, it's clear that the Nets are selling between now and the Feb. 6 deadline.
The big question is, what will the OKC Thunder have to give up in order to land Thomas? Currently, the team is sitting on a trove of draft picks in the years to come, however, the Nets could look to acquire a player in return, which could complicate things for an OKC Thunder team that's won nine of their last 10.
Cam Johnson opens up on the "shreds of doubt" that comes with playing on a rebuilding team amid OKC Thunder trade rumors
Ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, Cam Johnson spoke candidly about what it's like playing on a rebuilding team during an episode of the Young Man & The Three podcast, formerly hosted by JJ Redick.
During his appearance on the show on Thursday, Johnson spoke with WNBA legend Sue Bird and newly-appointed host Tommy Alter about his experience playing on a rebuilding team.
With the Nets already trading Dennis Schroder to Golden State, and trade rumors surrounding both him and Cam Thomas, Johnson offered his perspective on playing for a rebuilding team:
"Uncertainty of your future, whether it’s yourself getting traded, whether it’s your teammates getting traded, anything like that. Just those little shreds of doubt can be very difficult for teams to overcome because the margin for error is always really small.
"It’s a little bit of lack of communication, a little bit of a lack of trust, and just a tiny bit of disinterred feelings from any one player out of five, and how good players are at the professional level, you’re gonna get exposed. So a lot of elements at play anytime this comes up, and if you’re on a team where trade speculation is high."
As Johnson has showed this season, while he may be under the stress of being on a rebuilding team, he's still having a career year. On a championship contending team like the OKC Thunder, there's no telling where his ceiling may be.