Cam Johnson is back where he belongs in Brooklyn after inking a reported four-year, $108 million deal with the Nets last week. AP Photo by Jason DeCrow
Nets general manager Sean Marks still hasn’t orchestrated the big one this summer.
If he intends to at all.
But Brooklyn’s executive roster-shaper has kept an important piece in the fold, bringing back restricted free-agent forward Cameron Johnson on a reported four-year, $108 million pact last week, according to ESPN.
Johnson, who arrived here via the blockbuster trade-deadline deal that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix in February, averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per contest in 25 starts for Brooklyn during their stretch run toward the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Though the Nets were ousted in four games by Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs, they did see Johnson and fellow former Suns forward Mikal Bridges rise to the top of head coach Jacque Vaughn’s rotation.
Marks was reportedly interested in adding Portland point guard Damian Lillard to the mix via an offseason deal, but that has not yet materialized, nor does it figure to after the seven-time NBA All-Star revealed Saturday that he wanted to be sent to Miami.
The Nets could play a significant role in that swap if they become the third team in the trade.
Heat point man Tyler Herro, who made 38 percent of his 3-pointers last year as well as averaging over 20 points per game, could wind up in Brooklyn if Marks opts to be the third trade partner.
Herro could help fill the role, albeit diminished last season, of veteran Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris, whom Marks sent to Detroit last week for a pair of future second-round picks.
Harris’ departure will give Brooklyn nearly $20 million in additional salary-cap flexibility going forward this offseason.
The…
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