NBA Intel: Cam Johnson trade talks, Clint Capela’s future, Mike Conley and De’Andre Hunter chats
With the NBA trade deadline two weeks away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on Cam Johnson trade talks, Clint Capela’s new role and future, what’s potentially next for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and interviews with Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter and Timberwolves guard Mike Conley.
Cam Johnson trade talk updates
Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is among the top players NBA executives around the league are monitoring ahead of the trade deadline while averaging a career-high 19.4 points and flirting with a vaunted 50-40-90 shooting split.
Despite being in the midst of a rebuild, the Nets highly value Johnson, who turns 29 in March. Brooklyn has a 0-10 record with Johnson out of the lineup. As previously reported on HoopsHype, It would take more than one first-round pick to pry Johnson from Brooklyn, league sources told HoopsHype.
The Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, and Memphis Grizzlies have been among the teams mostly linked to Johnson in the rumor mill.
While the Kings have long been linked as one of the top trade suitors for Johnson, it’s worth noting Sacramento has been resistant to parting with rookie guard Devin Carter in trade talks with teams, league sources told HoopsHype. Instead, a combination of Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles with future first-round pick draft capital has been identified as Sacramento’s most consistent package when they’ve looked to upgrade the roster in trade talks with teams, according to NBA executives around the league who’ve spoken with HoopsHype.
Yet, it’s worth noting the Kings have been on a roll lately with a blistering 10-2 record under coach Doug Christie, who took over for Mike Brown. Christie currently has the NBA’s highest all-time winning percentage (.833), ahead of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla (.731) and Phil Jackson (.704).
The Pacers have also been on a roll lately and have an 8-1 record to start 2025.
Indiana has talented young players such as Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, etc., that teams around the league have inquired about.
Mathurin is eligible for an extension this offseason and is potentially in line for a big payday, given his scoring prowess. Indiana values Mathurin, and his upcoming potential contract extension may not align with Brooklyn’s current goals for future cap space flexibility.
Nesmith is owed $22 million over the next two seasons. His contract is affordable, especially for a starting-caliber player.
Walker and Sheppard remain on affordable rookie-scale contracts with team options for the 2026-27 season.
Pacers reserve forward Obi Toppin, considered an eventual trade candidate with Indiana’s glut at power forward, is unlikely to be a fit for the Nets due to his remaining $45 million over the next three seasons.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have continued to evaluate their roster while conducting due diligence on the trade market, including Johnson. Memphis also previously attempted to acquire former Nets forward Dorian-Finney Smith.
During trade talks, the Nets have valued future draft picks and want to maintain cap space looking ahead. Amid Brooklyn’s rebuild, the Nets are also evaluating which young players will remain part of the core.
Clint Capela’s new role and future
The Atlanta Hawks made a notable lineup change by inserting Onyeka Okongwu into the starting lineup at center and moving Clint Capela to the bench.
In three games before becoming a starter, Okongwu averaged 18.3 points on 60.6 percent shooting from the field, 15.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks.
The promotion to the starting lineup was a reward for how well Okongwu played recently and an opportunity to see what he could do as a starter, league sources told HoopsHype.
Okongwu is starting a four-year, $62 million extension. The 24-year-old center is part of Atlanta’s youth movement with 23-year-old rising star forward Jalen Johnson, 21-year-old All-Defensive Team candidate Dyson Daniels, and 19-year-old rookie Zaccharie Risacher. Three-time All-Star Trae Young, who leads the NBA in assists this season, is also entering his prime at 26.
Capela has started 313 of 318 games since arriving in Atlanta via trade in February 2020. Capela’s last appearance off the bench was on January 18, 2023.
With Capela’s recent move to the bench in the final year of his contract at $22.27 million, executives around the league are monitoring the veteran center on the trade market.
Will the Cleveland Cavaliers make a trade to avoid the luxury tax?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are tied for the league’s best record with the Oklahoma City Thunder at 36-7.
Yet, with Cleveland roughly $1.9 million above the luxury tax threshold, NBA executives are monitoring whether Cleveland will try to duck the tax with a trade.
While the Cavaliers have conveyed they could pay the luxury tax with the team performing so well to keep continuity, NBA executives elsewhere are skeptical.
Keep an eye on facilitating teams around the league looking to take on salary for future second-round draft capital to be in touch with Cleveland leading up to the deadline.
De’Andre Hunter interview
Before facing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 20, Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter sat down with HoopsHype to discuss his career season coming off the bench, his Sixth Man of the Year candidacy, how coach Quin Snyder has unlocked his potential, Atlanta’s young core going forward, Trae Young’s growth, and more.
How did you find your way into a 3-and-D role and come into the draft with that label?
Hunter: It’s a label. It’s not who you are as a player. You get labeled by the media or another person to be this, but I know who I am as a player. I know I play defense and can score.
What’s led to your career season while coming off the bench in a new role?
Hunter: I think we’re playing a lot differently this year. We’re definitely moving the ball a lot more. We’re getting out in transition a lot more. As far as my role, coming off the bench has been a different role. I think I’m looked at as the playmaker or scorer in that second unit. That’s the expectation. I think I can score pretty well, so it’s not too hard for me.
How has the team's dynamic changed after trading Dejounte Murray for Dyson Daniels in addition to the young core pieces already here?
Hunter: I think you see a lot of growth, especially with guys like Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who came from New Orleans, where he didn’t play too much. You can see what kind of defensive player he is. JJ (Johnson) has grown into being a star himself. If we continue to progress and get better, the sky will be the limit for us. I think we can compete with anyone right now this year. Hopefully, we can keep the guys together and continue to get better.
How would you describe playing for coach Quin Snyder?
Hunter: Quin has a lot of energy, but I call it good energy because he’s motivating, helping, and guiding us to do the right things. He’s probably one of my favorite coaches I’ve played for. I’ve got nothing but love for Q.
Is there anything Quin Snyder has done that’s impacted your game?
Hunter: Quin really believes in me. As a player, when you can sense that a coach believes in you, it does a lot for your confidence. He always talks to me. He tells me to shoot more even when I think I’ve shot a lot. Hearing things like that really makes it a lot easier to go out there and play my game.
What are your thoughts on your candidacy for Sixth Man of the Year?
Hunter: Honestly, I don’t really care about it. If I win the award, I win it. If I don’t, nothing is going to change in my life. It would be an honor if I get the award to get recognized by the NBA, but if we win as a team and I don’t win the award, that would be better for me.
What evolution in Trae Young’s game have you seen as his teammate?
Hunter: Trae is older. When you become older, you mature more mentally and physically. I think you’re seeing that in his game. I think it’s slowed down for him a little bit. He’s always been a great passer, but knowing where guys will be and having years together where you have chemistry allows you to be better yourself and make better decisions. I think that’s what we’re seeing. He’s always been, in my opinion, a fantastic passer and scorer. I think he’s just taking it to another level this year, especially with his passing.
Do you think Trae Young’s passing gets overlooked because he can score 30 points?
Hunter: I think all people really care about is scoring anyway. Fans, analysts, those people, that’s what they focus on. He averages almost 12 assists. I think that’s crazy and should be talked about more, especially coming from a guy who can score 30 or 40 any night. I think we need to grow more of an appreciation for the overall game instead of just focusing on just one aspect of it.
Mike Conley interview
Following Minnesota’s 116-99 win over New York at Madison Square Garden on January 17, veteran Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley briefly chatted with HoopsHype to discuss how long it’ll take Julius Randle, Naz Reid, and Rudy Gobert to find their chemistry and the parallels to when Karl-Anthony Towns went through an adjustment. Conley also explained how he’s adjusting to a new role off the bench and the possibility of his jersey being retired by the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Grit and Grind era.
As the point guard, how have you tried to help Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid build better chemistry?
Conley: We’ve got unique skill sets on our team. All three guys are different in their games and what they do. It’s almost trying to get them to learn who they’re on the floor with and how they must adjust for that particular lineup. When Rudy is out there with Julius, Julius has to space a little bit differently than he does with Naz. When Naz is out there, Naz can be the popping big, and Julius has to be the guy in the post and be in the paint. I try to recognize that for them if I’m out there with that unit and putting them in those positions so they can be more successful and not have to overthink things or jumble up the spacing too much and make the game easier.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert took time to develop chemistry before things blossomed last season. Halfway through this year, what have you thought of the new adjustments with Julius Randle, and how long can it take to find similar chemistry to last season?
Conley: Before I got traded here, I think it took them probably a better part of half a season to figure out KAT and Rudy before I got here. They went through growing pains, and we’re in that same scenario now with adding new people into our lineups. It takes a minute. It doesn’t happen overnight. We added Julius and Donte (DiVincenzo) literally in training camp. It led to a lot of ripples through who we are, offensively and defensively. I think we’re making a lot of progress. We’re trying to figure out how to consistently get all our guys on the same page.
How have you adjusted to coming off the bench in a new role?
Conley: It’s been unique with the different lineups. With KAT here, I had the ball a little bit more because he doesn’t bring it up as much. With Julius here, he has the ball a lot. I find myself being in the corners and trying to space in places. Throughout the game, I realize I haven’t even broken the paint or made a play for anybody the entire time I’ve been out there. Now, from this point on, I’m trying to be more aggressive and assertive. It doesn’t mean I shoot it a bunch of times. It means that I try to make situations happen by getting into the paint and pushing the tempo by being more aggressive.
In the latter stage of your career, have you ever thought about getting your jersey retired with the other members of the Memphis Grizzlies Grit and Grind era, like Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen?
Conley: If I’m able to get my jersey retired like those guys, that would be awesome. I hadn’t been able to think about it too much because I’m trying to celebrate the guys that do get it, and I’m still in the middle of my career. It would probably be one of my highest achievements other than winning a championship to have something like that happen in Memphis.
You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Cam Johnson trade talks, Clint Capela’s future, Mike Conley and De’Andre Hunter chats
