One of Sacramento Kings’ top trade targets spotted on crutches after suffering injury
The Sacramento Kings have been targeting Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson in trade talks for months.
The Kings are still exploring the possibility of acquiring Johnson before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, so there was concern in Sacramento when he suffered an injury in Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Johnson scored 26 points before going down with an ankle injury in the final second of a 113-110 victory over Milwaukee. Johnson went 10 of 16 from the field and 6 of 12 from 3-point range to help the Nets withstand a big comeback by the Bucks.
Johnson told the New York Post X-rays were negative, but he was seen on crutches in clear discomfort after the game. The exact nature and extent of the injury was unknown. High-grade ankle sprains can sideline players from two to eight weeks, but Johnson seems to have avoided serious injury.
The Kings (15-19) are looking to improve their roster after failing to meet expectations over the first two months of the season. Doug Christie took over as interim coach after Mike Brown, who was named Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading Sacramento to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, was fired Dec. 27.
The Kings were coming off back-to-back wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers as they prepared to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday at Golden 1 Center. They were 2 ½ games out of the final play-in spot in the West.
The Kings have a talented roster after adding DeMar DeRozan to a team that already featured De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis, but they still need size, length and wing depth. Johnson would help.
Johnson, 28, is a 6-foot-8, 210-pound small forward in his sixth season since coming out of North Carolina as the No. 11 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. Johnson was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to the Phoenix Suns on draft day.
Johnson spent three-plus seasons with the Suns before he was traded to the Nets in a blockbuster deal for Kevin Durant. Johnson is averaging a career-high 19.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He is an efficient scorer, shooting a career-best 49.1% from the field, 43.2% from 3-point range and 89.5% at the free-throw line.
Sources told The Sacramento Bee the Kings were engaged in trade talks involving Johnson right up until they selected Providence guard Devin Carter with the 13th pick in June’s NBA draft.
The Athletic reported Thursday the Kings have had “extensive talks” with the Nets regarding Johnson. That is “one of many avenues” the Kings are exploring.
This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
