The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly looking to trade both Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack this off-season in order to avoid falling into luxury tax territory again.
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The Nets have seen their plan to become immediate winners ultimately fail, as after their decision to acquire Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to add to an already star-studded roster two years ago, they have failed to achieve their desired result of winning a championship.
As that initial team continues to be broken up, more departures are expected this summer with Johnson and Jack reportedly the next on the list to be on the move and leaving the Barclays Center.
Under the current NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams that pay the luxury tax four seasons in a row will have to also pay a higher rate ‘repeater tax’ for not making the necessary moves over a prolonged period of time to move within the limits.
The Nets are on the verge of becoming the first team to have to pay it, but management have plans to place to try and avoid it if possible, and that involves more roster turnover.
“It is widely assumed the Nets will explore the trade markets for both Joe Johnson (with his expiring $24.9 million deal) and Jarrett Jack (due $12.6 million over the next two seasons but only partially guaranteed in 2016-17) to try to get away from tax territory that way, instead of waiving and stretching Deron Williams,” Marc Stein of ESPN reports.
While interest will likely be high in Jack given his ability as well as manageable deal, Johnson could prove to be a bit more problematic as he is owed $24.9m next season.
The ideal scenario would arguably see Williams moved on but that is even more tricky to manage, and so they are undoubtedly in a tough spot moving forward as they also have few Draft picks to work with in the coming years.
Owner Mikhail Prokhorov has dealt with the penalties that have come his way in recent times, but it is apparent that the organisation is looking to take positive steps to manage their finances and get a more healthy and sustainable roster moving forward.
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