Brooklyn Nets eyeing move up draft board, could package Cam Johnson to land top-10 pick
The Brooklyn Nets are exploring ways to climb higher in the 2025 NBA draft, potentially packaging Cameron Johnson and their No. 19 pick to snag a top-10 selection from either the Toronto Raptors or Houston Rockets.
The deal would likely involve taking back a less desirable contract along with either Toronto’s ninth pick or Houston’s tenth pick.
This marks a turning point for the Nets, who will have a lottery pick for the first time since 2010.
They’re actually sitting on a draft goldmine with four first-rounders coming in June, including picks from Houston, Milwaukee, and the Knicks.
Brooklyn stands alone as the only NBA team with at least $40 million in cap space.
The Nets’ draft arsenal is pretty impressive. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, they control 16 first-round picks total, with 13 available for trades. The Knicks owe Brooklyn three future firsts (2027, 2029, 2031) and swap rights in 2028.
There’s also a complicated pick situation with Philadelphia. If the 76ers keep their first this season, they’ll send Brooklyn a top-8-protected first in 2028. That protection shifts to 2027 if Philly’s 2025 pick goes to Oklahoma City.
Cam Johnson’s value at an all-time high
Johnson is coming off his best season as a pro. The 29-year-old forward averaged 18.8 points while shooting career-best percentages from the field (47.5%) and the free throw line (89.3%).
He was deadly from beyond the arc too, hitting 39% of his three-pointers.
The 6-foot-8 forward would be a perfect fit for Toronto’s frontcourt, bringing size and athleticism to help defend the perimeter. He’s under contract through 2026-27, making $20.5 million next season.
Johnson’s shooting would give the Raptors’ offense a much-needed boost. Toronto could really use another reliable wing who can space the floor alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.
RJ Barrett could head to Brooklyn
If the deal happens, Brooklyn would suddenly have two picks in the top 10 of the draft.
One possibility floating around has Toronto sending RJ Barrett and the No. 9 pick to the Nets for Johnson plus additional draft compensation.
This would save the Raptors about $7 million in salary cap space, giving them more flexibility with their mid-level exception and keeping them further from the luxury tax line.
Barrett isn’t exactly a salary dump. The former No. 3 overall pick averaged 21.1 points for Toronto last season, along with career highs in rebounds (6.3) and assists (5.4) per game. He’s owed $57.3 million over the next two seasons.
For the Nets, landing Barrett and a top-10 pick could accelerate their rebuild in a major way.
