The Detroit Pistons' need for more shooting is well-documented. Despite Cade Cunningham mastering the art of working in tight spaces, more shooting around will allow him to operate more effectively, turn the ball over less, and catapult the Pistons' offense to new heights.
While finding shooters in free agency or the trade market isn't too difficult, finding one that isn't a defensive liability can be a challenge. Shooters with size and some defensive versatility are hard to come by, and teams have to pay a premium to acquire them.
Considering how difficult it is to land that archetype, the Pistons need to do everything they can to trade for Cam Johnson this offseason. Giving up Simone Fontecchio, Marcus Sasser, and Bobi Klintman to match salaries, and throwing in a first-round pick to sweeten the deal, should be enough for the Brooklyn Nets to finally let Johnson go.
Johnson has been forgotten on the hopeless Nets team over the last two seasons, but he is one of the best shooters at the power forward position. He consistently hits over 39% from three on high volume, while gradually improving his playmaking. He averaged career highs of 18.8 points and 3.4 assists per game on an impressive 63.2% True Shooting last season.
At 29 years old, Johnson is in his prime and under contract for two more seasons. His $20.5 million salary for the 2025-26 season makes him a bargain deal.
Even though Johnson is not a defensive stopper on the wing, he has good size at six-foot-8. He may not be a big plus on that end, but he is not a liability, either. Plus, the Pistons have enough defenders on the perimeter that they can make up for Johnson's potentially middling defense.
Johnson could also act as a Tobias Harris insurance. As the veteran forward ages and hits free agency in the 2026 offseason, the Pistons could feel good about relying on Johnson in the power forward spot. For all these reasons, he should be the most obvious trade target for the Pistons this summer.