Detroit Pistons: Here’s what execs are expecting Cam Johnson to land in free agency

The Detroit Pistons will head into the offseason with cap space and plenty of needs to fill.

The biggest one may be on the wing, where the Pistons lack athleticism, shooting and just overall talent. They could end up adding several wing players this offseason depending on where they land in the 2023 NBA Draft and what players become available via trade.

One player that has been mentioned as a possibility is Cameron Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets, a solid two-way wing who can shoot and defend the position.

Johnson averaged 15.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Suns and Nets this season while shooting just over 40 percent from 3-point range.

Johnson stepped his game up in the playoffs, where he averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four games as his team was swept in the first round.

There is no question that he is a basketball fit with the Detroit Pistons, as Detroit desperately needs shooting and size on the wing and Johnson can provide it. But he’s also had injury concerns and has never played more than 66 games in a season, so there are reasons to stay away from this one, especially if reports about his next contract are accurate.

Detroit Pistons: Cam Johnson’s next contract

The one thing the Detroit Pistons can’t do this offseason is overpay the wrong guy, as this is the exact mistake that ruined the team in the past. Johnson is a restricted free agent and there is every indication that Brooklyn plans on keeping him, so it’s going to take a big offer to get him to Detroit.

According to HoopsHype, executives think that Johnson is about to get a big raise from someone:

"“Six NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype project Cam Johnson to earn a deal in the neighborhood of four years, $90 million in free agency this summer.”"

I wrote recently that the Pistons need to avoid the next Duncan Robinson contract and this one is in that ballpark. While Johnson is definitely a more skilled all-around player than Robinson, his injury history is not encouraging.

However, when the salary cap goes up, $22.5 million per season is going to be minimum wage for an NBA starter, what all good teams are going to paying their 3rd or 4th-best player.

But it may take more than that to get Johnson to leave Brooklyn, where he seems comfortable and has indicated he wants to stay. Are the Detroit Pistons at the stage in their rebuild where they should be shelling out $25 million per season for a guy who might be the 4th-best player on the team?

It would be a calculated risk, as Johnson may have a higher ceiling and could be the perfect fit, but could also just be a very good role player, the type the Pistons could find for cheaper. They may also decide to focus more on defense, as they need a stopper on the wing and Johnson is a fairly average defender.

It would be a roll of the dice, especially with Cade Cunningham becoming extension eligible next summer.