According to speculation, Johnson has been on the trade block for some time…
The Detroit Pistons have reportedly reached out to the Brooklyn Nets over a potential deal for swingman Joe Johnson ahead of the trade deadline.
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The Pistons are understood to have discussed a trade package which would be built around injured point guard Brandon Jennings and expiring contracts in exchange for Johnson, according to ESPN.
It is reported that no deal is imminent ahead of the deadline on Thursday afternoon, but the Nets are actively trying to make moves which could also involve center Brook Lopez leaving too.
Speculation has suggested that Johnson, Lopez and point guard Deron Williams have been on the trade block since December, and the organisation is certainly interested in listening to offers for the expensive trio.
Johnson is set to make $23.2m this season and is due $24.9m next year which will be the final year of his current deal. Unsurprisingly, that has been an issue for many teams interested in trading for him, but the 33-year-old does average 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season.
It would however still be a surprise move for the Pistons to part with Jennings given the form he displayed prior to getting injured.
The 25-year-old underwent surgery to repair his torn Achilles last month and is out for the remainder of the season. He had been averaging 15.4 points and 6.6 assists after the Pistons managed to re-group after the trade of Josh Smith, but that doesn’t appear to have been enough to avoid speculation linking him with a move elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Nets would undoubtedly welcome a deal given that they have the highest payroll in the league at around $90m, and after they conceded that their expensive gamble was a failure last season, it is time for the front office to start rebuilding and taking better care of the financial side of things.
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