Cam Johnson should be a 'realistic' Thunder trade target for 2 key reasons

Following last year's failure of a trade that landed Gordon Hayward in the Sooner State, Sam Presti seems to have tempered expectations of the OKC Thunder going about and pulling off another in-season transaction in 2024-25, even going on record during his Media Day presser to state that "external solutions always bring with them a lot of risk."

However, despite this easing of expectations, this has not stopped fans and pundits from daydreaming about players strewn across the league that this front office could potentially pursue prior to February's deadline.

Most recently, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report went as far as to specifically highlight Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson as a "realistic" target for Oklahoma City and, for two reasons in particular, such an addition could make a ton of sense for coach Mark Daigneault's ball club.

Nets forward Cam Johnson labeled 'realistic' trade target for Thunder

Of course, the first point everyone talks about is his tremendous ability to stroke it from deep, as Johnson boasts a career 39.2 percent conversion rate from distance for his career and is shooting at a respectable 38.6 percent from deep while serving as a top-three offensive weapon on the Nets, which, objectively, warrants more attention from an opposing defense.

If he were to be added to this Thunder core, the 28-year-old would be no higher than the fourth option at best when it comes to scoring weapons, as he'd be plugged in next to top-flight talents on this end the floor who rival clubs will need to focus the overwhelming majority of their efforts on combating in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.

Though this would certainly lead to a reduction in usage and dependence, Johnson would see far more open looks for scoring opportunities if slotted next to these ballers, which, in turn, would only help improve his efficiency in the shooting department.

Considering they rank a middling 15 in 3-point percentage, this is an area Oklahoma City could certainly use some help in and a less swarmed Johnson could provide more than enough aid.

The second reason made by Hughes is the "size and length" his arrival would provide to the Thunder's frontcourt.

Although they roster two players in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein who measure in at 7-feet or above, outside of them only two regular rotational contributors measure in at above 6-foot-7.

At 6-foot-8 and with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Johnson would provide some much-needed reinforcements in the size sector of this roster, as Hughes noted, and would allow the rotational switchability to continue within coach Daigneault's scheme, as the former first-rounder could slot in anywhere from the two all the way down to the four.

All for the price of "one of their many extra first-rounders and matching salary," as the piece suggested, bringing on a guy like Cam Johnson could prove to be quite beneficial for this championship-hopeful squad moving forward.