Joe Johnson might have stressed his commitment to the Brooklyn Nets, but the feeling is not mutual. After not getting a trade deal for the shooting guard at the deadline, the Nets have been weighing the idea of buying out the star's contract. Johnson is in the final year of a six-year, $123 million contract, and now Brooklyn is making moves to complete the buyout and begin a rebuild of the franchise.
Johnson and the Nets have begun discussions of a contract buyout, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. His $24.9 million salary for the 2015-16 season makes him the second highest paid player in the league behind Kobe Bryant. The guard is averaging just 11.8 points in 33 minutes per game. With new general manager Sean Marks in place, the idea that Johnson would not finish the season in Orlando had been brought up, but the star continued to stress he was looking to finish what he started.
"I'm a professional, man," Johnson said, via ESPN.com. "Obviously, this late in my career this isn't the ideal situation. Obviously. But I'm not forcing anything, I haven't went to management and asked for anything. I come to work day in and day out to compete and have fun, that's what it's about. And whatever happens, happens."
Once available, several teams will be gunning to sign Johnson. One of those teams will be the Atlanta Hawks, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Johnson is not a fan favorite anymore in Atlanta following the 2012 trade that sent him to Brooklyn for five players and several draft picks. However, the Hawks are fighting for position in the playoffs, and having extra offensive help is not the worst idea regardless of how the fans feel. Johnson played seven seasons in Atlanta. Jeff Teague and Al Horford are the only players still on the roster from when Johnson was with the team.
Stein reports the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors are all contenders to sign Johnson. At 34, the guard will look to sign with a contending team before anything else. At this point in the year, he will only be able to earn a minimum contract.
