BOSTON – The idea of Joe Johnson in a Celtics’ uniform - one that’s not photo-shopped - has gained some momentum with the current Brooklyn Nets star reportedly being open to a potential buyout and Boston emerging as one of the many teams interested.
Still, there are a couple of factors that pose major snafus to a deal being reached.
For starters, the 34-year-old Johnson is the second-highest-paid player in the league this season and is due $24.9 million, which is shade below the $25 million coming Kobe Bryant’s way during his farewell tour.
Those familiar with Johnson’s thinking don’t anticipate him wanting to budge much (if at all) off of what he’s due. At his age, it’s unlikely that he would be able recoup the money he would have to leave on the table in order for a buyout to be agreed upon.
And the Nets (you would think) would only entertain a buyout of Johnson if they could get a significant reduction off of what he is due.
Brooklyn already used its stretch provision to buy out Deron Williams (now in Dallas), so that’s not a viable route to take.
In addition, the Nets have no incentive to go into tank-a-palooza mode (which is exactly what they would be doing if they bought Johnson out) because their first-round pick in June belongs to Boston.
Now, maybe Brooklyn is taking the position that Johnson has been a good guy through some lean times, and freeing him to sign elsewhere and give him all or most of his money due is a means of rewarding that loyalty of service.
Nah.
I’m not buying that, either.
Buying out Andrea Bargnani was new-GM Sean Marks’ first act of significance and it made sense. It was little money on a player who was providing little to the team’s performance.
But Johnson is an entirely different matter.
While we all agree that Johnson is on the downside of his career, the six-time All-Star is actually playing his best basketball of the season right now.
And you can bet the Celtics and a host of other teams would love to bring him in and allow him to keep building off of his recent play.
In February, Johnson has averaged 13.2 points, 3.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 44.1 percent on 3s.
To add a player delivering like that at Johnson’s age would do wonders for the Celtics or any other team.
But for Brooklyn to eat most of his $24.9 million salary which will only make them worst, doesn’t make a lot of sense.
And knowing that they can’t improve through the draft this year because their pick is owned by the Celtics, adds to the lunacy of a buyout for Johnson.
Only Johnson’s willingness to leave a substantial amount of money on the table for the freedom to sign elsewhere, make this deal make sense for both sides.