LOS ANGELES — The final time Cam Johnson had a sprained proper ankle, he missed 5 video games and the Nets misplaced each one.
After returning in Tuesday’s win at Portland, Johnson was suspended for Wednesday night’s 126-67 loss to the Clippers … with a sprained proper ankle.
Brooklyn can solely hope it isn’t that extreme and extra of an abundance of warning, as a result of the previous few weeks have highlighted Johnson’s worth — each by what he gives along with his presence and what the Nets lack in his absence.
“CJ will get quite a lot of consideration for us offensively,” Noah Clowney stated. “He is a good goalscorer. And getting consideration helps all the opposite guys get simple hits.
That was highlighted Tuesday when Johnson returned to the court docket with a team-high 24 factors on 10-for-18 taking pictures to steer the struggling Nets to a victory over the Path Blazers.
His return was short-lived, again on the sidelines. However it’s unclear if there was a replay or if the Nets simply held him as a result of it was the tip of a battle.
The Nets are fairly conservative with their pitching employees, and it is easy to see why they is perhaps cautious of a mistake with Johnson.
The ahead is averaging 19.6 factors on stellar 49.6/42.8/89.7 taking pictures, approaching the 50/40/90 mark completed by solely 9 gamers in NBA historical past.
Johnson can also be their most dear commerce asset.
The Publish has persistently reported that — regardless that Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith have been very a lot on the commerce block — Brooklyn will maintain the highest worth for Johnson, the equal of two first-round picks. A current report from NBA insider Jake Fisher reiterates that that is nonetheless the case.
It is value noting that, as The Stein Line reported, Johnson’s commerce quantity is not simply his $22.5 million wage, however groups would additionally should account for the winger’s $27 million “cap wage” that will hit the books to each group within the bracket due to the unimaginable bonuses included in his four-year, $94 million deal.
It will make transferring it extra difficult than it appears at first look.
Nick Claxton was questionable however performed in opposition to the Clippers after lacking Tuesday’s win with proper hamstring tightness.
He scored two factors and was 1 for 7 from subject objective.
Ben Simmons sat out, nonetheless not cleared to play on each sport nights.
Cam Thomas, Bojan Bogdanovic, Maxwell Lewis, Trendon Watford and DeAnthony Melton have been additionally out, and D’Angelo Russell didn’t play. … PJ Tucker was out because the Clippers look to commerce him.
Zare WilliamsThere was an onslaught earlier than we went down by 4 factors on Wednesday.
He had 13 factors on 3-for-4 from deep with seven boards in opposition to Portland to complete plus-6 in 28 minutes.
He has scored in double figures in a career-high six straight video games, averaging 13.7 factors and 5.7 rebounds on 42.9 p.c taking pictures from behind the arc.
