10:12pm: A source tells Alex Raskin of The Wall Street Journal that the conversations between the Nets and Hornets have ceased. Still, the door remains open for the talks to pick back up closer to the deadline, and Charlotte has spoken to Brooklyn about Stephenson at least three times, Raskin hears.
MONDAY, 4:15pm: The Johnson talks date back to the three-way negotiations Brooklyn and Charlotte had earlier this month with Oklahoma City about Lopez, and no deal is imminent, a source tells Marc Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com.
SUNDAY, 7:51pm: The talks are somewhere in between exploratory and serious, according to Michael A. Scotto of Sheridan Hoops (on Twitter). The Nets could also part with a smaller piece in the deal, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter).
7:45pm: The Nets and Hornets have restarted their trade talks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. This time, the discussions are focused on Brooklyn guard Joe Johnson.
The two sides are discussing a larger package that would likely include guards Lance Stephenson and Gerald Henderson and forward Marvin Williams. The Nets have been linked to Stephenson in the past. A recent report indicated that they didn’t have much interest in the guard, but it would seem that they do in fact have an eye on him.
Hornets owner Michael Jordan has been intrigued with the possibility of acquiring Johnson, who has struggled recently with tendinitis. The Nets, meanwhile, would like to unload the 33-year-old’s lucrative contract. Johnson is set to make $23.1MM this season and $24.9MM in 2015/16, his walk year.
At the end of the day, the Nets wouldn’t appear to be saving a ton of money with this deal as Stephenson, Henderson, and Williams also have undesirable deals. Stephenson is making $9MM this season and $9MM in 2015/16. Henderson is earning $6MM this year with a $6MM player option for 2015/16. Williams, meanwhile, is scheduled to make $7MM in both 2014/15 and 2015/16.
The Nets revamp could also extend beyond Johnson as they explore deals for big man Brook Lopez. Wojnarowski hears that the Nuggets, who have long been connected to Lopez, remain an interested trade partner.
Johnson, 33, has been averaging 15.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.7 APG per game. His PER of 14.3 is well below his career average of 16.1. Overall, the numbers show that he hasn’t been as efficient in his three years in black and white as he was with the Hawks.
While those three players only cost a tad less than $3 million under what Johnson will make next season, that puts the Nets in a much more manageable position for getting under the tax line next season. Further, having three players making that money saves them from having to fill those spots with other players, shaving another $1-2 million. Finally, each one of those contracts individually would be easier to move than Johnson’s $25 million, and the chances are better that at least one of them rebounds to regain some trade value. Assuming the Nets aren’t attaching a sweetener, this is a pretty good salary dump, even if on the surface it doesn’t appear to dump that much salary.
im intrested to see what the nuggets offer for lopez is.. they have some young pieces that could help the nets in there rebuild
It’d have to be a 3 team deal most likely.
Sixers/Team w/Cap: McGee + a future 1
Brooklyn: Chanlder & Nurkic
Nuggets: Lopez
thats a nasty contract that mcgee has, not sure if the 76ers would take that on.. plus any chance nets can get a young wing like gary harris from the nuggets
His contract would be valuable in a trade next season though as an expiring contract that could facilitate a trade for another team. You’re looking at potential protected 1st round pick in the right trade or at least a couple of 2s.
getting Henderson, Stephenson and Williams for JJ does save some money and gives the nets an easier chance of moving those players vs Johnson. no one else will touch him at his price. gotta move on him now. as for brook, im hearing that the nuggets are looking to move javale McGee. id have to see what kind of picks or other players would be involved but straight up I cannot see Brooklyn take that.
I don’t think so, especially at his age, 33 and some health problems starting to showing up now. If so I would think the Hornets could still work out a deal without trading away a no problem, Henderson who gives a 100% and hustles every game. If Stephenson still must go, something will happen when the times right, but not just now. Who knows, maybe Stephenson can still turn his game around and fit in. The Hornets are starting to play like a team ready to break out and make a move. If I were the Hornets, I’d be wanting the very best trade deal out there. Someone will bite. Till then, just sit back and keep playing hustle-ball. The door will be knocking with some better deals.
Bad trade on the Hornets side, giving up three every day players for one high priced aging, hurting and soon to be part-time player. The Hornets have one of the better benches in the league, way screw with it?
So there is another Team as stupid as Atlanta, Brooklyn & Phoenix !!!!