Cam Johnson has had a rough start with the Denver Nuggets, to the point where some fans wish Michael Porter Jr. were still in town. Porter is averaging a career-high 24.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, in contrast to Johnson's 7.2 points per contest. Was the trade a mistake?
Absolutely not.
On his podcast, "Game Theory Podcast w/ Sam Vecenie," Vecenie said that the Nuggets need to find a way to get Johnson going.
"The fact that Cam Johnson is averaging seven points and shooting 21 percent from three and still hasn't found his role in this offense is pretty wild, first and foremost. It's genuinely pretty to me, but also, it gives them some real ceiling, I think, too, based on the fact that they are already 10-2. They have beaten three really good teams, and Cam Johnson hasn't really gotten going yet.
Notice how Vecenie said that Johnson hasn't gotten going yet. There is no getting around the fact that Johnson hasn't shot the ball well, but we're not a full month into the season. He's playing a new role on a new team. It's not like he forgot to shoot the ball.
Try not to panic about Cam Johnson's start for the Nuggets
Last season in Brooklyn, Johnson shot 39% from three on an average of 7.2 attempts per game. In the most games that he played in a season in Phoenix (66 games in 2021-22), he shot 42.5% from three on 5.9 attempts per game. Since entering the league in 2019, Johnson has shot 38.8% from deep.
It's impossible to imagine that he'll continue to shoot 21% from three when he returns from the biceps strain injury that kept him sidelined during Saturday's win in Minnesota. When he re-enters the lineup, the Nuggets need to get him involved, like Vecenie said. He needs to see the ball go through the net, just a few times.
Porter putting up "big" numbers with the Nets may make it seem like Brooklyn won the trade (the Nets are 2-11, by the way), but need we remind you that moving on from MPJ's $17 million salary gave the Nuggets the space to sign Tim Hardaway Jr., who is averaging 12 points per game on 49.3% shooting from three? It also led them to a reunion with Bruce Brown and a trade for Jonas Valančiūnas.
Now, imagine what it will look like when Johnson gets going, joining Denver's other offseason additions.
Don't write off Cam Johnson.