Joe Johnson vs. Hornets in 2014
Dec 13, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson (9) drives past Brooklyn Nets forward guard Joe Johnson (7) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Nets won 114-87. Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets are discussing a probable trade that involves Nets guard Joe Johnson and Hornets wingman Lance Stephenson. Other players may be part of the deal as well and the trade discussion is continued after the failed Nets-Hornets-Oklahoma City Thunder trade talks over two weeks ago.

Adrian Wojnarowski, one of the most reliable NBA Insiders today, of Yahoo Sports and Fox Sports was the first to break the news on the latest on the Brooklyn-Charlotte exchange:

As per National Basketball Association (NBA) salary cap rules, the Hornets must add players aside from Stephenson to make the trade work. Stephenson is in the first year of a three-year deal that pays will pay him roughly $27 million or just around $9 million per season. Johnson earns over $23 million this season and has two years left in a huge six-year, $123,658,089 contract he signed back in 2010. To make the two-team trade work, players like Marvin Williams ($7M/season) and/or Gerald Henderson ($6M/season) might be included in the deal.

Stephenson was considered one of the key acquisitions for the Hornets in the offseason but he has struggled with injuries early in the season and the Hornets are just 19-26 for the year— just good for 8th place in the weak Eastern Conference. Stephenson averages 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 31 games played so far this season. Brooklyn is half a game behind Charlotte in the team standings at 18-26 with Joe Johnson, who is also having injury issues with his knees, is averaging a team-high 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 42 games played.

It appears that both franchises are now willing to take different approaches to the season. The Hornets want to make the postseason and hopes that by adding Johnson they’d have a more stabilising presence in the backcourt to help them in their bid. Meanwhile, the Nets are now willing to throw away the season making available the toxic contracts of its stars namely Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, both of whom are reportedly on the trading block.

To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au.

RELATED STORIES