Tag: Cam Johnson

Panthers bring back TE to practice squad on Friday

The Panthers have signed TE Jordan Matthews to their practice squad for the third time this season.

Jordan Matthews is back . . . again.

As announced on Friday morning, the Carolina Panthers have signed the 10th-year tight end to their practice squad. This marks his third stint as a member of the group this season.

Matthews was released from the active roster this past Tuesday. His spot would go to wide receiver Adam Thielen, who was officially activated after missing the last seven games due to a hamstring injury.

The Panthers have used Matthews in four of their 10 outings in 2024. He’s played 26 snaps on offense, where he has tallied one target, and 61 snaps on special teams.

Although he has yet to record a single catch for Carolina over the last two seasons, Matthews was the team’s second-leading receiver from this past preseason. He reeled in seven balls for 68 yards and a touchdown during the summer.

He now fills the spot on the practice squad left by the release of wide receiver Cam Johnson, who was also moved on Tuesday.

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Panthers activate WR Adam Thielen, part ways with 2 others

The Panthers have activated WR Adam Thielen to their 53-man roster.

The surging Carolina Panthers are getting one of their roster’s most important pieces back.

As announced on Tuesday afternoon, the team has activated wideout Adam Thielen to their 53-man roster. The 11th-year receiver has missed the last seven games due to a hamstring injury.

Thielen sustained the setback in Week 3, while scoring on a 31-yard touchdown pass in Carolina’s 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He would be placed on injured reserve two days later.

Carolina then designated Thielen to return to practice on Oct. 23, opening up the 21-day window for the 34-year-old to be moved back to the active roster. Tomorrow would have marked the final day for the Panthers to do so.

Last season saw Thielen lead the team in targets (137), receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,014). In his three games this year, he’s totaled eight catches for 109 yards and the score.

To make room for Thielen, the Panthers waived veteran tight end Jordan Matthews from the active roster.

The team also released wide receiver Cam Johnson from the practice squad.

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Panthers waive player from active roster, sign 2 others to practice squad

The Panthers announced they have waived DL Nick Thurman, who played in every game for the team over the last two seasons.

The Carolina Panthers opened up another spot on their active roster ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants.

As announced this morning, the team has waived defensive lineman Nick Thurman. The 29-year-old defender played in all 17 of the team’s games in 2023 and all nine of their games this season.

Thurman joined the Panthers in July of 2023. He’d go on to amass 31 total tackles (two for a loss) and a quarterback hit in his first campaign for Carolina.

2024 has seen the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder record four starts over his nine outings.

With Thurman’s departure, the Panthers now have four vacancies on their active roster.

Carolina also made a pair of additions to their practice squad, as they signed wide receiver Cam Johnson and safety Alex Cook.

Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Northwestern University, spent the offseason with the Dallas Cowboys before being waived in August.

Cook appeared in 10 games for the Panthers in 2023 and was already a member of this year’s practice squad prior to his release on Oct. 8.

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NBA insider believes Nets still want 2 first-round picks for Dorian Finney-Smith

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints recently reported that the Brooklyn Nets are still looking for two first-round picks for Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Brooklyn Nets have done what many had suggested for them to do as they are embracing a full rebuild following trading Mikal Bridges of the New York Knicks in exchange for as many as five first-round picks and three players. As a result, most of the veterans are considered to be on the trade block, including one player that came to the team as a result of the Kyrie Irving trade.

Per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints during his appearance on the “Stiles and Watkins” show on Sactown Sports 1140 on Wednesday, Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith could be had by any opposing team in a trade for two first-round picks. The backdrop for this news is that the Sacramento Kings could be looking for a player like Finney-Smith to improve their team in the hopes of competing in a tough Western Conference.

“I’ve kind of heard rumblings that they’re (the Nets) looking for two first round picks, that’s what they were looking for at the trade deadline,” Siegel said. This report from Siegel is not entirely surprising given that Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported in June that Brooklyn had rejected an offer of two first-round picks before last season’s trade deadline.

“I believe that he’s going to be getable for one (first-round pick) and a a solid young talent there as far as teams that could potentially look at Dorian Finney-Smith,” Siegel opined. At this moment, it seems that the Nets may have missed out on trading Finney-Smith at the height of his value when they refused to trade him for two first-round picks.

Whether the Nets are actually still looking for that kind of return is still left to be seen, but it’s possible that Brooklyn is looking to get the most they kind for some of their veterans remaining on the team. Siegel also reported during the same appearance that he believes that the Nets will be looking for a similar return for forward Cam Johnson.

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NBA insider believes Nets want 2 first-round picks for Cam Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets are expected to want two first-round picks for forward Cam Johnson, according to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel.

The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of its latest rebuild and as a result, there are a number of veteran players that could be playing for other teams next season. One of the players that Brooklyn has reportedly put on the trade block is expected to cost team two first-round picks to acquire.

On the “Stiles and Watkins” show on Sactown Sports 1140 on Wednesday, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel made an appearance to discuss various topics, including what the Nets want in exchange for forward Cam Johnson. The Sacramento Kings are one of the teams that Johnson has been linked to since Brooklyn traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks last month.

“Nothing has changed really with Brooklyn. There’s been teams that have talked to the Nets about what they would be wanting for those players (Johnson and forward Dorian Finney-Smith),” Siegel said. “Obviously, the Nets are looking for draft picks at this time and for a player like Cam Johnson, after seeing what they just got for Mikal Bridges, they’re going to be asking for at least two first round picks.”

With the Nets heading into a rebuild, it’s possible that a team like the Kings could still be pursuing a player like Johnson given how valuable his skill set as a 3-and-D wing is.

There hasn’t been much reporting pertaining to what Brooklyn is asking for to trade Johnson, but if at least two first-round picks is indeed the price for him, he may have to go into next season as a member of the Nets before teams become desperate enough to trade that much draft capital.

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Nets’ Cam Johnson is an intriguing player to the Cavaliers

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype on Sunday, Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is an intriguing player to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Brooklyn Nets are embarking on a rebuild now that they have ended their window of contention by trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for draft capital for the most part. One of the players that could be playing for another team next season is forward Cam Johnson as he appears to be of interest to another team.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on Sunday that the Cleveland Cavaliers are intrigued by Johnson. With the Cavaliers looking to improve their standing within the Eastern Conference, they are trying to find players upgrades to put around their better players in Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.

“Cleveland is also intrigued by Cam Johnson, according to reports,” Scotto wrote. Per various reports over the course of the summer, Johnson has been of interest to plenty of teams hoping to add depth on the wing with a player that can stretch the floor and offer some rebounding help like Johnson can.

Johnson recently spoke about the trade rumors that are surrounding him and other members of the Nets and he said that he is remaining professional until something does or doesn’t happen. However, given that Brooklyn is heading in a different direction than they were when they brought him to the Nets two seasons ago, Johnson may welcome a change of scenery to a team like Cleveland that will be a playoff participant.

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Nets’ Cam Johnson could draw interest from Lakers, Spurs, Warriors

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has been linked to plenty of teams since Mikal Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks. Here’s more.

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson is one of the players that came to the franchise as part of the Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns that happened during the 2022-23 season. However, now that Brooklyn is pivoting in a different direction following the trade of Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, Johnson could find himself playing for another team next season.

After Brooklyn traded Bridges to the Knicks, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that Johnson was considered to be one of as many as six Nets players that were on the trading block. Along with that report, there were also various reports that linked Johnson to other teams looking to frontcourt depth, such as the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings.

Now that the NBA is done with the Las Vegas Summer League, congratulations to Nets forward Jalen Wilson for winning the MVP award, fans can turn their attention to sporting events like the Olympics and what’s left of the offseason. More to the point, there seems to be more teams potentially interested Johnson as the summer goes on, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post:

“While the Kings, Magic and Lakers are interested, one recent report claimed the Spurs, Raptors or Warriors could be a ‘dark horse.’ NBA analyst Jake Winbach suggested San Antonio could want him, dangling Keldon Johnson and draft compensation.”

Essentially, three more teams have possibly added their names in the bidding for Johnson in the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors. With Johnson’s ability to stretch the floor and provide positional size as either a small forward or a small-ball power forward, he could be a good fit for a number of teams.

Johnson, 28, is coming off a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 39.1% from three-point land. He also has three years and $68.82 million left on his current contract after re-signing with the Nets last offseason.

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Several former UNC basketball stars make appearances at Tuesday workouts

You might recognize these three former Tar Heels who recently appeared at offseason basketball workouts.

Anticipation continues to build for the start of college basketball season, which begins with gameplay in November.

A lot of that anticipation surrounds our North Carolina Tar Heels this week, who recently discovered their non-conference schedule. UNC opens its season against Elon on Monday, Nov. 4 at home, then heads to Kansas four days later for a 2022 National Championship rematch.

North Carolina’s 2024-2025 roster is headlined by the return of reigning ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis, transfer additions of Cade Tyson and Ven-Allen Lubin, plus incoming 5-star McDonalds All-Americans in Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. There are a few starting spots up for grabs, most notably center, but plenty of players who will compete for starting minutes.

UNC spent some valuable time at the Dean Dome on Tuesday afternoon, with offseason workouts allowing players the chance to shine in front of the coaching staff.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, there were a couple former Tar Heels you might recognize who showed up: Luke Maye, Cam Johnson and Kenny Williams.

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If you haven’t already rewatched his clip thousands of times, Maye is best remembered for his shot against Kentucky in the 2017 Elite Eight. Maye became a starter the following year, averaging a career-high 16.7 points per game.

Kenny Williams was teammates with Maye from 2015-2019, breaking into a starting role during North Carolina’s title-winning season. Williams averaged a career-high 11.4 points per game in his junior year, then later played in the G-League for two seasons, before heading overseas.

Cam Johnson, one of the best transfers to ever play at North Carolina (2017-2019), averaged 16.9 points per game during his senior season. Johnson, now a starter for the Brooklyn Nets, is now a budding NBA star and one of the league’s best shooters (44.7 career field goal percentage).

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Nets’ Cam Johnson believes team has a good group to grow with

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson recently spoke on the idea of growing with this team because of what he sees moving forward.

The Brooklyn Nets have changed the makeup of their team once they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for as many as five first-round picks and three players. Now that Brooklyn is headed into a rebuild, veterans like forward Cam Johnson could be on the way out, but he would like to grow with this team.

“I think we have a pretty good group in Brooklyn that we can start to grow something… If I’m staying in Brooklyn, then I’m all in, excited to play, and excited to grow this group,” Johnson said to the media during the Las Vegas Summer League. Once Bridges was traded to the Knicks, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that Johnson was one of as many as six Nets that are considered trade candidates.

For Johnson specifically, there are a number of teams that have an interest for his services as a forward who can shoot the three-pointer well along with having enough size on the perimeter to not be a mismatch in some situations. Johnson, 28, is coming off a 2023-24 season in which he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 39.1% from three-point territory.

There is a possibility that Johnson could stay in Brooklyn since he has three years left on the four-year, $94.5 million contract that he signed last season to come back to the Nets after entering the summer as a restricted free-agent. As with most players, Johnson’s place on the team will most likely depend on what another team is willing to offer Brooklyn for his services, similar to what happened with Bridges.

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NBA insider names eight potential trade targets for the Lakers

Who could the Lakers go after in a trade either this summer or before this winter’s trade deadline?

At this point in the offseason, after the Los Angeles Lakers failed to sign any free agents, the only way they can upgrade their roster is through a trade. While they have a good roster that should make the playoffs if they stay relatively healthy, they don’t seem to be championship contenders by any stretch.

The Lakers’ needs are (in no particular order) an upgrade in terms of a ball-handling guard with better quickness and defense, a 3-and-D wing and a serviceable defensive center.

According to NBA insider Jake Weinbach, there are eight players to watch as far as possible trade targets for Los Angeles: Darius Garland, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jerami Grant, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter is someone who could solve the Lakers’ need for another legitimate center other than Anthony Davis. Although he has been injury-prone, he has shown the ability to rebound and occasionally hit 3-pointers.

Garland and Sexton would represent possible backcourt upgrades for the Lakers, while Brown, Johnson and Finney-Smith are intriguing 3-and-D wings.

Grant is someone the Lakers have been rumored to have serious interest in this summer. Having averaged 21.0 points a game this past summer, he could give them a legitimate third scoring option and another 3-point sniper, and he’s also a pretty good defender.

Markkanen would be the loftiest target on this list. He put up 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game over the last two seasons while making the All-Star team in the 2022-23 campaign, and a number of teams are thought to be after his services.

The Lakers have limited trade assets, but their upcoming first-round draft picks in 2029 and 2031 could be seen as valuable by some other team.