NBA Trade Rumors: East contenders eyeing $22,500,000 wing to form tandem with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland

Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the most dominant teams in the NBA this season, owning a six-game lead in the Eastern Conference over the Boston Celtics. However, the team is looking to bring in a wing to solidify their starting five as they prepare for the postseason. The Cavs have been mentioned as a potential destination for one of the top trade targets this year; Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson.

Johnson, who has a cap hit of $22.5 million this season, is one of the most attractive pieces on this year's trade market, with many teams showing interest in his services. Joe Varden, a reporter for The Athletic, reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers are making it known that they want to bring in Johnson to join their team:

"Executives from three franchises told The Athletic that Cleveland has expressed interest in acquiring 6-foot-8 forward Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets," Vardon wrote.

Cameron Johnson is having a stellar year for the Brooklyn Nets so far this season, averaging a career-high in points while still shooting better than 40% from three on the highest volume of his career.

The Nets have underperformed expectations so far this season and are expected to be one of the teams heavily pursuing the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft, which is projected to be Duke's Cooper Flagg. Because of that, the Nets are expected to trade away their major contributors to better position themselves in the draft lottery.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are enjoying the best year since they traded for Donovan Mitchell. Despite coming off a surprising 20-point loss to the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland is comfortably at the top of the East at 34-6.

Their new head coach Kenny Atkinson has unlocked lineups for the team, but bringing in Cameron Johnson would allow him a lot more flexibility with the rotations he would be able to run.

How Cameron Johnson would help Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers

Ever since LeBron James left the Cavaliers to go to the LA Lakers in 2018, Cleveland has had trouble filling their small forward position. Donovan Mitchell and Co. are in need of a stable 3-and-D wing to hold down the open starting spot and take on the toughest defensive assignments in the postseason.

Johnson fills those holes really well, averaging 19.6 points on nearly 50-40-90 shooting while also playing above-average perimeter defense. While playing him alongside Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the Cavs' roster might hamper his counting stats, Johnson's value comes in the form of his efficiency and acceptance of a smaller role, ever since he played with the Phoenix Suns.

If they can pull it off, Johnson would be a big plus to the Cavaliers as they prepare for a postseason run.