NBA rumors: Nets clear cap space, perhaps posturing for Cam Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets have dumped salary by trading Joe Harris to the Pistons, which could be a signal for their plans with Cam Johnson. 

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Brooklyn Nets are trading Joe Harris to the Detroit Pistons along with two second-round picks. It is unknown what the Pistons are sending back, but it is likely rights to an international prospect as the Nets were clearly dumping salary with this move.

This seems to be an admission of defeat that the Nets are going to match Cam Johnson’s offer no matter what. The Pistons were rumored to be pursuing ways to get Cam Johnson without the Nets matching his contract but that seems moot now with Detroit now out of viable cap space.

The Pistons could use Harris’s expiring contract to explore getting contracts with longer terms during the season. They could also use the contract as a matching salary in a deal for a veteran with more practical use down the line.

NBA Rumors: Nets trading Joe Harris clears way for Cam Johnson deal

As reported by ESPN’s Ian Begley, this trade signals that the Nets were looking to move Harris to alleviate the “potential financial strain” that the Nets would have had in luxury tax penalties when they sign Cam Johnson to a new deal.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks also noted that the Nets are now below the tax by $32 million, which will help them keep Johnson, possibly sign a player with their full non-taxpayer midlevel exception and avoid the dreaded second tax apron.

This is a pure cap move by the Nets but it shows that this team will most likely end up keeping Cam Johnson this offseason. This was crucial after he was a part of the player return in the Kevin Durant trade. He has also been a very nice wing for Brooklyn in his limited time with the team, and a potentially key piece for the future.