Earlier this year, the Indiana Pacers were one of the teams reportedly interested in making a trade for Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson. The Nets were clear sellers, and Johnson may not fit their rebuilding timeline. Additionally, at the time, the Pacers were a team that may have benefitted from adding a 3-and-D player. Ultimately, the Nets kept Johnson on the roster.
The Pacers mostly stood pat at the trade deadline, with their only move being sending James Wiseman to the Toronto Raptors. So far, this has looked like the right move as the Pacers are one of the hottest teams in 2025. However, this has not stopped the Pacers from being in mock trades, including ones that see them land Johnson anyway.
Recently, Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz proposed a trade that would send Johnson to Indiana, and it is one that the Pacers would be better off not making.
Pacers land Cameron Johnson in new Bleacher Report mock trade
In Swartz's mock trade, the Pacers acquire Johnson in exchange for Jarace Walker, Aaron Nesmith, and Johnny Furphy. On paper, this is a trade that could make sense for both teams. However, this is not a good deal for Indiana as it is way too risky.
Johnson is a good player, and he could be useful on the Pacers. He has a good jumpshot and can contribute a lot on the offensive side of the ball. Additionally, he has size and is a decent defender. However, it is fair to say that Johnson does not provide a big enough upgrade for the Pacers to justify trading for him.
The biggest problem with this trade for Indiana is moving on from Nesmith, who is playing stellar basketball right now. Nesmith is a well-rounded player who is a perfect fit in Indiana's system, and he is also on a great contract. Johnson might still be an upgrade over Nesmith, but he is not a big enough upgrade for the Pacers to jeopardize their continuity and chemistry.
In addition to Nesmith, the Pacers would also move on from Walker and Furphy in this deal. While these would not be game-changing losses for the Pacers, they are two young players who possess a lot of potential and could be valuable to the team.
There is a lot to like about the idea of Johnson in Indiana. However, this is still a risky trade for the Pacers, and it is an unnecessary one they do not need to make, especially if they go on another deep playoff run this year.