When the depth of the penalty area is weak, it is often seen that these already low-level wing groups have to bite the bullet and carry the fourth or even fifth position. This is definitely a huge worry for the road to the championship that is surrounded by strong enemies. Even if Holmgren returns to the team, Oklahoma still needs to increase the size of the forward to increase the flexibility of the lineup.
In addition to his height, Johnson also possesses above-average athletic ability and impressive wingspan. Even though he was not good at defense in the past, he is capable of playing a large number of valuable defensive roles in modern basketball: from helping the inside to following up. From the outside, it will be of great help to the Thunder.
Not to mention that in terms of defending opponents this season, especially in terms of three-point perimeter, Johnson’s performance in suppressing the opponent’s shooting percentage is actually higher than the league average. We can also expect that Johnson is already far ahead of the league’s strongest defensive team. With support, he can become a better two-way player.
In addition to the added value
Not only the performance that can be expected on the court and the possibility of integrating into the team, if Johnson can be successfully traded, it will also bring other benefits to Oklahoma.
First of all, Johnson already has experience in championship games during his time with the Suns. At that time, he helped the team fight against “Giannis Antetokounmpo”. This generation has little experience in the playoffs, and at most he only has experience in the playoffs. For the Thunder in the second round, it will definitely be a plus.
On the other hand, the 28-year-old Johnson has a three-year contract worth US$65.5 million this year. Based on his performance in recent years, he is definitely worth the money or even great value. If the Thunder successfully introduces the door, it also means that he is still in the prime of his player career. In the future, his most brilliant years will just overlap with the timeline of the Thunder’s current young main force, at least until the 2026-27 season. This will also help the stability of this emerging power’s lineup in the next few years, not only Just get a short-term gambling mercenary.
Based on the above obvious and anticipated benefits, if you ask me about my opinion on trading Johnson, I will obviously be optimistic about the outcome.
However, as time passes, according to earlier reports from American reporters, the Thunder are not active in negotiations at this stage, and there is no possibility of a transaction for the time being. This part is also affected by the negative aspects of both buyers and sellers.
For the Thunder, sources pointed out that the situation is similar to that of the Cavaliers, who are worried that anything they do now will destroy the lineup that has been firmly leading the league.
