Joe Johnson may not be in Brooklyn for much longer. From Andy Vasquez of The Record:
“I’m a professional, man,” Johnson said after practice. “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. Obviously this is a tough situation, but we’re all in this together and everybody in this locker room is who we’ve got. So no pointing fingers, we’re just coming out and just competing.”
Johnson is the last player that teams are looking to trade for, as he’s 34 years old, declining, and has a contract worth nearly $25 million. Another option for the Nets could be buying Johnson out, though.
Vasquez asked Johnson about the possibility of a buyout.
“Honestly, I don’t even know,” Johnson said when asked if he was open to a buyout. “My agent was here last night, and me and him are supposed to sit down and talk within the next week or so. So, I’m sure — whether or not it comes up, I don’t know, but we’ll talk.”
Johnson has made it clear that his priority in free agency will be playing for a contender; he’s never won a championship, and is probably desperate for one.
One team that could be interested in acquiring Johnson’s services is the Miami Heat, according to The Miami Herald‘s Ethan J. Skolnick
Tax concerns aside, I'm told this would pique Heat's interest https://t.co/U3NvlYRnOd
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) February 2, 2016
Johnson’s value will go way up once he doesn’t have that ridiculous price tag on him. He may have slowed down considerably, but he’s still a very capable scorer, and a veteran presence. I’m sure several teams, including the Heat, would show interest in Johnson, whether in free agency or following a buyout.
