Financial hurdles and a looming youth movement make Cam Johnson’s return to the Valley improbable, as Phoenix prioritizes roster flexibility and fresh talent over familiar faces.
Pressure continues to mount on the Phoenix Suns to properly bridge two distinct eras together in a proper fashion, as the organization's franchise player in Devin Booker isn't getting younger in the midst of attempting to recoup assets that were lost in acquiring Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
One of the players that has been floated as a potential long-term fixture within the Suns' infrastructure is none other than Cameron Johnson - who spent the first 3.5 seasons of his career in Phoenix before being included in the Durant trade.
Johnson, 30, is owed $23,062,500 in the final year of a four-year contract that was signed while serving as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. The 30-year old now appears to be on the chopping block for the Denver Nuggets as well, as the franchise is in a financial crux - they will very likely need to part with either Johnson or Christian Braun this summer.
Johnson has never shied away from stating his love for Phoenix and the Suns' fanbase, but a reunion between the sides simply seems to be too far-fetched at this time.
The first roadblock is the soon-to-be acquisition of Miles Bridges that has yet to be announced. The assumption is that the Suns will sign the 2018 lottery selection to an extension over the summer, which wouldn't bode well for Johnson. Committing to multi-year deals for players either approaching or crossing the 30 year threshold makes little sense for Phoenix - especially when factoring in the youth movement at the wing spots, including rostering Rahseer Fleming and Koby Brea.
While Johnson would positively impact Phoenix's off-court culture and serve as a two-way force on the court, it just doesn't seem to be the wisest move to committing to giving a sizable contract to a player coming off of a rough season - especially when considering that Brea has real potential to fill into the role that Johnson left behind in February of 2023.
That isn't to say a return to Phoenix is impossible, as Johnson is still well thought of by the Suns' front office - just don't hold a collective breath on it happening in the near future due to a myriad of factors.
The Phoenix roster will be at the league maximum of 15 players once the Bridges trade and Luke Kennard signing become official, but don't close the door on other moves being made around the margins - even if the North Carolina alum isn't in that picture.
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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.
