The Brooklyn Nets have nothing to play for, and nothing to lose for, since their pick goes to Boston no matter where it lands. They have to try and look towards the future, and while owner Mikhail Prokhorov has made it clear he's willing to pay through the nose, there's still a benefit to cutting costs.
Sporting News reports that Brooklyn could look to buy out star guard Joe Johnson.
If Joe Johnson doesn’t get moved at the deadline, he’s seen as a prime candidate for a buyout.
Source: Knicks' upgrades are obvious but still not close to finished.
Johnson, able to take whatever deal he'd want as the Nets would have paid him over $160 million even if Johnson takes a $13 million paycut to play elsewhere this season, could have his choice of contenders. He's a smart veteran who can create offense and doesn't create problems for teammates. The Spurs, Cavaliers, and Thunder are all teams that would benefit from having Johnson around, even if it's in a limited role. Since he was good in 2010, you can bet Doc Rivers will have interest as well.
The Nets don't have much motivation to do the deal. Tanking only increases their embarrassment over the pick they're sending Boston. But saving some money and letting Johnson do something productive with his career is a good idea intrinsically. We'll see if this comes to pass, since the report indicates that other executives think this is likely to happen and doesn't necessarily reflect what the Nets want.
