With the 2024-25 NBA season nearing its shut, a brand new hierarchy is rising amongst the league’s gamers. The Ringer launched its up to date prime 100 gamers listing on Thursday. Just one member of the Brooklyn Nets made the reduce, with Cam Johnson coming in at No. 75.
“Older NBA prospects—like Cam Johnson, who was 23 years previous when he was drafted in 2019—sometimes don’t have excessive ceilings. So it made sense that Johnson was however not nice contributor for some time in Phoenix: He was a wonderful shooter with a profession 40 % mark from distance who lacked some other standout abilities. Now in his late 20s, nonetheless, Johnson is coming into his personal as a extra well-rounded offensive risk,” wrote Zach Kram. “He’s seizing on the ample alternatives up for grabs in Brooklyn: He’s initiating extra offense, creating extra photographs for himself, and changing into much more environment friendly regardless of the elevated quantity. Though he surprisingly stayed put in Brooklyn previous the commerce deadline, his final vacation spot may nonetheless be as a task participant for a contender—however now Johnson would fill that position with extra oomph than ever earlier than.”
Johnson is coming off a career-best season throughout which he averaged 18.8 factors and three.4 assists on 48/39/89 taking pictures splits. He and Desmond Bane had been the NBA’s solely gamers to common not less than 18 factors on such effectivity.
With the Nets within the early phases of a rebuild, the 28-year-old could possibly be a commerce candidate main as much as the draft.
Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas had been notable omissions from the Ringer’s listing.
Cam Johnson is lone Nets consultant on The Ringer’s NBA High 100
Claxton had beforehand made the listing, coming in at No. 60 following the 2022-23 marketing campaign and No. 95 following 2023-24. His slide out of the High 100 underscores a dip in manufacturing as Brooklyn continues a teardown of its roster.
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Claxton, thought-about a Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate two seasons in the past, struggled to provide at his accustomed degree whereas battling accidents this season. He averaged 10.3 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks on 56.3 % taking pictures, his lowest since his rookie season. The 26-year-old suffered a again damage throughout the offseason that compelled him to obtain an epidural early within the 12 months.
Claxton advised reporters at his exit interview that his again was “nonetheless bothering him,” however he wouldn’t want any process throughout the offseason.
Thomas has by no means made the Ringer’s prime 100 listing. The 23-year-old additional cemented his place because the Nets’ lead offensive possibility this season, averaging 24.0 factors on 44/35/88 taking pictures splits. Nevertheless, he appeared in simply 25 video games whereas struggling three accidents to his left hamstring.
Thomas stays a polarizing participant following his fourth NBA season. Whereas he has confirmed able to constantly posting monstrous scoring efforts, his playmaking and protection proceed to boost questions on his long-term position.
The previous first-round decide noticed a slight uptick in his help numbers this season, averaging 3.8 per sport, though nonetheless effectively beneath different gamers with comparable utilization charges. His protection left a lot to be desired. Thomas posted a plus-6.8 defensive score, the worst mark on the Nets, per CleaningTheGlass.
Regardless of this, Thomas has seemingly carried out sufficient during the last two seasons offensively to earn a major payday. The Virginia native will likely be a restricted free agent this summer season.