The Brooklyn Nets bought out Deron Williams to save money. Williams was happy with the decision, as he gets to go home to Dallas. With Williams gone, shooting guard Joe Johnson will stay in Brooklyn(as opposed to leaving for Cleveland), and he reportedly couldn’t be happier.
Moreover, various sources inside the Nets have suggested that the departure of D-Will is likely to help Johnson rebound. It was no secret that Brooklyn’s Backcourt didn’t get along…
One insider, asked after the buyout if the Nets were still pursuing a Johnson trade, firmly said no. He volunteered there was probably no one more pumped about the buyout than Johnson. “I am sure Joe will have a tremendous season,” he added with a smile.
Joe Johnson is going into the final year of his laughably-huge contract(he’s owed $24.9 million in 2015-16). Johnson can expect to make a lot less money for the remainder of his career. He’s still a viable option offensively, and is a good 1-on-1 player(he isn’t called Iso Joe for nothing), but his days as a 7-time All-Star are over. He’s 34 years old and isn’t the player he once was.
Johnson still brings offense and leadership to the Nets. Last season, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, per game while shooting 43.5% from the field, 35.9% from 3-point range, and 80.1% from the foul line. Those aren’t amazing numbers, but Johnson’s always been more of a gunner than a super-efficient player. He’s nowhere near worth the almost $25 million that he’ll make this year, but he can still get buckets.
