Cam Johnson lands $108M deal from Nets to stay with ‘twin’ Mikal Bridges

The Nets locked up Cam Johnson to a long-term deal throughout the first hour of free company on Friday evening.

Johnson agreed to a four-year, $108 million contract to remain in Brooklyn.

The deal was first reported by ESPN, and confirmed by The Publish.

“I’ve actually come to understand the folks right here and meaning an amazing quantity to me,” Johnson mentioned earlier than coming into free company. “I haven’t made any selections business-wise but, however I positively have elements I’m contemplating and I’m warming as much as New York, actually.”

Brooklyn clearly warmed as much as him.

After buying Johnson — together with Mikal Bridges and a trove of first-round draft picks — from Phoenix in return for Kevin Durant, the Nets had signaled that holding onto the sweet-shooting ahead was the highest precedence in free company.

This contract reveals it.

“Cam is aware of how we really feel. We hope he’s again. However he’s going to have selections to make,” Nets common supervisor Sean Marks had mentioned. “He’s an enormous precedence for us. There’s no query there.”

Extending Johnson a qualifying supply on Wednesday made him a restricted free agent, permitting Brooklyn to match any supply sheets from one other workforce.

However similar to he did with beginning heart Nic Claxton a yr in the past, Marks by no means let issues get that far with Johnson.

Largely anticipated to get a four-year, $90 million deal that matched Bridges’ pact, Johnson’s market began to blow up into the nine-figure vary.

“I do know lots of people most likely need him on completely different groups. I simply inform him, ‘I do know cash and this and that, however simply know the place I need you. And you’ll’t depart your twin!’ ” Bridges instructed The Publish. “However he is aware of. He is aware of that I by no means need him to go. And I hope that he stays and so they supply him a extremely whole lot. Get my boy paid and go from there.”

Johnson bought paid, and likewise will get to remain in Brooklyn, enjoying alongside his shut pal Bridges. That performed a job in his need to remain.

“Yeah, I’d say so,” Johnson had mentioned of Bridges. “That’s my twin — I haven’t performed an NBA recreation with out him, actually — the man I got here into the league alongside of and any person I’ve grown near. I worth these folks in my life and he’s a superb teammate. So the continued alternative to play with him goes to be crucial.”

The Nets’ messaging of a willingness to match all cheap presents for Johnson might have scared some suitors off.

Houston has been linked with Johnson, however opted to alter instructions and reportedly go after Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.

And whereas Johnson had been Detroit’s No. 1 goal, a curious Pistons transfer really took them out of the operating. Buying and selling for one more Internet — ahead Joe Harris — chewed up their cap area.

Now Brooklyn retains a key piece of the Durant deal.

Johnson boosted his scoring common to 16.6 per recreation for the Nets, and 18.5 within the playoffs on 42.9 p.c capturing from deep.

The 6-foot-8 ahead can area the ground, defend and is simply coming into his prime.

Yuta Watanabe, in the meantime, departed for a free-agent cope with the Suns.

After capturing a career-high 44.4 p.c from 3-point vary, the Japanese ahead could have a reunion with Durant in Phoenix.

The Nets will ship rookie draftees Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson to Las Vegas Summer time League. David Duke Jr. — an unrestricted free agent after Brooklyn declined to tender him a qualifying supply — will be part of them.

Adonis Arms, Armoni Brooks, Kennedy Chandler, RaiQuan Grey (who spent final season with G-League Lengthy Island), Jordan Corridor, Kameron Hankerson, Matt Lewis, Trey McGowens, Nick Perkins and Jamorko Pickett make up the remainder of the roster.