The Nets held onto Cam Johnson through the trade deadline. Now he’ll be their only representative at All-Star weekend, when he takes part in the 3-point contest.
“Sean [Marks, general manager] pulled me aside the other day and said that they invited me to do it, so it’s an honor,” Johnson said. “I watched the 3-point contest growing up and always imagined being out there, so it’ll be pretty cool. I’m excited.”
One wonders what Johnson thought when Marks went to take him aside, considering he’s been the subject of constant trade rumors almost all season. But after getting past Thursday’s deadline, now Johnson goes up against the league’s top shooters Saturday at Chase Center (8 p.m., TNT).
“It means a lot. It’s a skill set I pride myself on and something I take really seriously. So, yeah, it’s a big-time opportunity,” Johnson said.
“You dream about this stuff all the time. Everybody dreams of playing in an All-Star Game. I’m not there, but I’ll be involved in the weekend to some extent. And I put a lot of effort into shooting and working on that and priding myself on that over a lot of years, so it feels good to be recognized. But I want to go win it.”
Brooklyn heads into Monday’s tilt vs. Charlotte having won four of five. That comes mostly on the strength of a defense led by Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe.
“This stretch, the last five games, we’re sixth defensively, and [Claxton] and Day’Ron were really, really good, and we need that level of energy, communication, intensity,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said.
The Nets are second in the league in defensive rating since Jan. 28 at 105.2.
“Just figuring it out, just figuring out my spots where I can get blocks,” Claxton said. “Explosiveness coming back. It’s a different defense, so just figuring everything out, just taking pride on the defensive side of the ball.”
With Ben Simmons bought out, the Nets have no proven backup point guard behind D’Angelo Russell. They used 6-foot-9, 240-pound Trendon Watford there in Friday’s win, and he had 12 points and four boards and was a game-high plus-19 in 22 minutes backing up Russell.
“It feels good,” Watford said. “Each game, been feeling better and better. Just finally feel good to get in the rhythm. See some shots go in and even miss some shots. Just being able to handle the ball, back up point with DLo out, and find my guys, man. Just help winning.”
The Nets now have an open roster spot and enough cap space to add a veteran minimum player, per NetsDaily.
They could convert Tyrese Martin — who has been active for 48 of their 52 games and is approaching his two-way limit of 50 — to a standard deal.
They could ink Killian Hayes, who is playing well in the G-League but is ineligible for a two-way. Or they could look at outside options.
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