The NBA trade deadline is getting closer and reports have the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets discussing a trade with Lance Stephenson and Joe Johnson and this comes as the Nets have previously shopped Brook Lopez and Deron Williams earlier this season with the Kings and Miami Heat showing interest.
Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo Sports first reported on the trade discussions and he mentioned that the Hornets could trade Stephenson along with Marvin Williams and Gerald Henderson. According to Yahoo Sports, the two teams previously discussed a deal involving Stephenson and Brook Lopez, but those talks did not progress and now Johnson could be the center of the new proposal. The Nets and Hornets have both struggled this season and both sides have tried to shop their stars in trades.
The Nets have only won two of the last 10 games and right now they are not currently in the eastern conference playoffs. Stephenson was shopped earlier this season by the Hornets and the Nets were mentioned as a destination, as he is from Brooklyn and would be open to a trade there. The Nets are in the process of getting sold and they are shopping Johnson, Williams and Lopez to try and shed salary.
Williams has missed time with injuries and Lopez has also been banged up and likely will be traded at some point. Yahoo Sports reports that the Nuggets could be interested in Lopez, while Williams was previously a target with the Sacramento Kings. Woj writes that Michael Jordan is open to bringing in Johnson despite his large salary, as he could be a strong offensive option for the Hornets. Stephenson was supposed to be that after signing a three year deal this past offseason, but he has struggled and was benched multiple times earlier in the season.
The Nets and Hornets last talked a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder that included Stephenson and Brook Lopez, but that did not get done. The Thunder later acquired Dion Waiters from the Cavaliers. Johnson is averaging 15 points this season, while Stephenson's numbers are way down from where he was last year with the Pacers, as he is shooting less than 40 percent overall. The Nets are ninth in the eastern conference standings, while the Hornets are in eighth place.
Jordan expected the team to be better after making the playoffs last season as the Bobcats and that is why he signed Stephenson. The Nets have been trying to shed salary and Johnson could be the first move as they try and get that done. Deron Williams has missed eight straight games while dealing with an injury, while Johnson is dealing with tendinitis.
The Yahoo report doesn't say whether Johnson's diagnosis will hinder any trade talks. Henderson and Williams likely will be included in the deal to make the money work, as Johnson has a high salary for the next two years on his deal.
