Brooklyn Nets: Joe Johnson, Lance Stephenson Back In Trade Talks?
By Greg Chin
After weeks of stalling, the Brooklyn Nets have re-opened trade talks with the Charlotte Hornets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The main piece the Nets are offering is Joe Johnson, while the Hornets are looking to move Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson, and Marvin Williams.
Johnson is currently owed $48 million over the next two seasons, and the Nets have been open about moving his hefty contract. Stephenson, on the other hand, is on a three-year, $27 million contract, with the final year of his contract being a team option. Henderson and Williams are both on two-year deals.
While the Nets only shave $4 million off their books with this trade, it would provide them with more flexibility moving forward. It would be easier to move Henderson’s two year, $12 million contract and Williams’ two-year, $14 million contract. Stephenson, who has struggled to perform to his level of play from last season, still has some trade value as an asset.
The Nets find themselves in a difficult position, as they cannot go through a complete rebuild, with most of their picks being owed to the Boston Celtics. But by re-tooling and trading for moveable contracts, the Nets can restructure their roster without having to bottom out.
The key piece for the Nets here is Lance Stephenson. Stephenson would be the best player of the trio of rumored players the Nets would receive in the trade. Despite having a subpar season, the decline in Stephenson’s production could be due to a lack of fit rather than a drop in talent. The Hornets’ starting lineup features three ball-dominant players in Stephenson, Al Jefferson, and Kemba Walker.
We’ve seen a decrease in shot attempts, three-point field goal attempts, and an increase in usage rate. The Hornets have been misusing Stephenson, even resorting to having him come off the bench since he returned from injury. The Nets would be a good destination for Lance to restart his career, and he would instantly be a hit with the fans, especially since he is from Brooklyn.
If the Nets are successful with trading away Johnson, Brook Lopez and Deron Williams, they could rebuild around Lance. Even if they do decide to bottom out, smaller contracts would be easier to move around, as teams would be willing to take risks on less expensive players.
The trick here is to find willing takers for the big, bulky contracts they have left, and continue re-tooling from there. The Denver Nuggets have expressed an interest in taking on Brook Lopez, in exchange for Javale McGee, Gary Harris and a first round draft pick.
The rumors surrounding the Nets are that Mikhail Prokhorov is looking to sell the team. However, in order to make the team seem more attractive, he would have to dump some of the more expensive contracts. The problem here is that the uncertainty surrounding the club is hurting the team, as players are unsure of their future. By committing to a direction (whether that is making the playoffs or committing to a re-tool), the players, coaching staff, and front office can work towards a common goal.
After weeks of inactivity, the Nets could finally start making moves. And we might finally get a sense of what the Brooklyn Nets are trying to achieve.