Anyone think that ESPN has a bit of an agenda here re: Brooklyn?

It's not a done deal but it doesn't sound good for Dallas. Still, I don't get what Brooklyn is doing. Overpaying Gerald Wallace, pursuing Joe Johnson, how does that make any sense? If they want to compete with Miami in the East then they need Howard. I don't know if they have the pieces to trade for Howard either unless the Magic really love Brooke Lopez. Probably the best thing the Nets can do is resign Williams, keep cap space open, tank next year, get a lottery pick then sign Howard as a free agent.

Which wastes a year of Deron's prime, and is something that Cuban can hopefully use against the Nets in today's meeting.

dallasbasketball.com said the Mavs pitch did not mention the Nets once, negatively or positively. Going the classy route

I think that's the correct approach. Giving up a #6 overall pick for Gerald Wallace, and then giving him 4/40 while looking to trade for the most overpaid player in the NBA should speak for itself.

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r the most overpaid player in the NBA should speak for itself.

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Now they are going after Rashard Lewis, too?

I guess they could seeing as Rashard was waived. But Joe Johnson currently has the richest contract in the NBA.

Rashard is somehow getting paid $14mm to do even less than he did last year when he was paid $21mm for his 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Who is more overpaid: Joe Johnson or Rashard Lewis? This will likely be remembered as one of the NBA's unanswerable debates, along the same lines as Wilt or Russell, Magic or Bird, whether the Rockets' titles should have one asterisk or two.

If we're talking about who is most overpaid this year it has to be Rashard Pubechin. But Joe Johnson easily has the dumbest contract, the torch passed from Rashard.

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Who is more overpaid: Joe Johnson or Rashard Lewis? This will likely be remembered as one of the NBA's unanswerable debates, along the same lines as Wilt or Russell, Magic or Bird, whether the Rockets' titles should have one asterisk or two.

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Lewis, Wilt and Bird.

<sorry to continue the tangent>
Gilbert Arenas is getting 20mm this year and 22mm next year from Orlando (he was waived under the amnesty clause.)
He averaged 4 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound last year for Memphis.

Imagine that. Orlando, Atlanta and Washington signed three of the stupidest contracts in NBA history.

I think the 3y/64mm owed to Amare for the next few seasons has to be up there as well. For that, NYK got 17.5/7.8 last year.

So much fail among NBA GMs. How do they get those jobs?

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Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA
As teams finalize framework of Joe Johnson deal contingent on DWill commitment, Nets won't be sending future 1st to Atlanta, source tells Y!

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Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA
Nets would send Jordan Williams, Petro, Farmar, Morrow and a sign-and-trade of Stevenson for Joe Johnson, sources tell Y!

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I guess Deron returning to BKN is all but finalized. They wouldn't make a move for JJ without his consent. The fact that Atlanta is willing to receive all that crap should tell you Joe Johnson's worth.

BKN is going to be top-heavy in the back court but no depth and no front court. Good enough to make the playoffs in the East though, I guess.

[This message has been edited by Judge (edited 7/2/2012 4:17p).]

not sure if this is part of the Nets' master plan or if it's more of a desperation move. Leaning towards the former, hoping for the latter.

Look at what the Hawks are accepting to relieve themselves of that contract. I'm really hoping it's desperation by BKN.

I'm see-sawing back and forth on how to take this. This is a tough read. After all the posturing for D12 the Nets have done it seems weird they'd take themselves out of contention by adding Joe freaking Johnson.

So Brooklyn will only have Deron Williams, JJ and Brook Lopez under contract?

Now it makes sense why Finley is there.

Joe Johnson is the modern day Finley, and he's about to enter the "Finley over age 30" complete albatross phase of his career.

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So Brooklyn will only have Deron Williams, JJ and Brook Lopez under contract?

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+ Gerald Wallace. And I think Lopez is a RFA.

They should sign humphries right now and then sign lopez

No chance of D12 now - would you rather play with Dirk+Carlisle or Brook Lopez, Avery Johnson and the Finley 2.0 albatross contract while being guaranteed a little more money per year

This is just so weird to me... it makes absolutely no sense. D12 is openly stating there's only one team he wants to go to, and this is the guy Deron wanted to make the super-team with. Are they hoping to flip JJ and GW for D12? As I'm picturing the Hawks ownership/management partying in the streets for relieving themselves of that complete guffaw of a contract, I doubt Orlando's new GM will take on those two garbage contracts.

Unless this is what Deron wanted. What a total mind-f.

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Joe Johnson is the modern day Finley

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I always thought of him as more of a modern day Antoine Walker -- both volume shooters who were never really that good at shooting

Lopez
PF?
Wallace
Johnson
Williams

That's not a terrible core. I like that better than Tyson/Amare/Melo/Shumpert/Douglas

I just don't know how they are going to have any flexibility.

Johnson 20mm
Wallace 10mm
Williams 17mm
Lopez (13mm?)
That's 60mm.

Which is like all their salary cap space. So they could have the MLE and vet minimums and thats it.

from Orlando's perspective, NJN don't really have anything they'd want to acquire via trade, and they're not gonna take on a bunch of **** assets just to appease Dwight. I think NJN realized this and moved on.

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The Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks have agreed to terms on a deal that will bring Joe Johnson to New York, sources told ESPN.com.



The deal is contingent on Deron Williams agreeing to stay with the Nets.


The Hawks, according to sources, would get Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson (via sign-and-trade) and the Rockets' 2013 lottery protected first round pick.

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Now I have seen it all. Unreal.

They have to resign Humphries (who's not a bad player as far as I'm concerned) and match any offer for Lopez.

Joe Johnson is a post-season Houdini, but a good 2nd or 3rd option. 2nd or 3rd options don't have previous-CBA max contracts though.

Zero depth.

I just don't see the point. There's no way that team can beat Miami. If Indiana matches for Hibbert I'd give the edge to the Pacers in a 7 game series. If Rose returns to form the Bulls would win in 5 or 6.

At least BKN vs the Knicks would be fun to watch.

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Adrian Wojnarowski ?@WojYahooNBA
League source tells Y! that Joe Johnson deal now likely "happens with or without Deron." Nets officials are meeting with Williams right now.

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Seen from multiple sources that it's no longer contigent on Deron.

Don't wanna make a new thread, but Bucher says Mavs now in lead for Dwight.

edit: apparently fake? not sure.

[This message has been edited by Dan 07 (edited 7/2/2012 5:43p).]

Was gonna say, source?

either big FA would be nice

Deron is definitely coming to Dallas. This move reeks of desperation and puts New Jersey as only the 5th or 6th best team in the East.

I found the tweet btw: http://twitter.com/#!/RicBucher/

Looks legit. FWIW. Not like the Nets have to concede to his wishes.

[This message has been edited by R0GUE (edited 7/2/2012 6:26p).]

It comes down to whether DWill is more interested in money or championships. DWill, Dirk, & potentially D12 would dominate. DWill, Wallace, & Johnson equals mediocre and more cash for DWill. He should have listened to Bill Walton talk to Norm today about the enjoyment of playing for 3 all time teams overshadowed any disappointment from injuries he had and how players should play their careers for championships and being part of something great.