The Cleveland Cavaliers' talks to acquire Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Joe Johnson appear dead, as potential changes in the Nets' front office have altered Johnson's availability.
According to reports, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov is planning to buy out the remaining ownership stakes from Bruce Ratner and take complete control of the franchise. In fact, he also wants to buy out Ratner's stake in the Barclays Center as well, and go "all in."
Prokhorov also wants a competitive team on the floor, albeit one that exercises more caution financially than they have in the past, and that means keeping Johnson on the team.
"I'm hearing that Prokhorov ... There's been a lot of talk about him selling the franchise ... and now the latest is that in the next two weeks we could hear an announcement that he's actually buying 100 percent of the franchise, buying the Barclays Center, going all in," Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher said.
"Sources who told me this also told me there is still the possibility that he gets completely out if he has that opportunity, but the indications are much more strong that he would go the other way and buy all the way in."
Johnson averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season and shot 35.9 percent from 3-point range. Johnson would be a valuable part of any team were it not for his massive contract; in 2014-15 Johnson will count for $24.8 million against Brooklyn's salary cap. That hit is the second-biggest in the NBA, aside from Kobe Bryant's.
The Nets have taken steps to rid themselves of much of the baggage from their ill-fated 2013 deal to acquire Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry from the Boston Celtics, and their re-signing of Deron Williams in 2012 to a max contract. All of those players have been excised from the roster, with Williams being the most recent to go. He was bought out, and is now on the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite losing veteran talent, the Nets re-signed center Brook Lopez, and think retaining Johnson will allow them to compete for a playoff spot.
A Johnson trade was always going to be difficult to work out with the Cavaliers because of his salary and the uncertain situation of Tristan Thompson in Cleveland; Thompson is seeking a deal that approaches max money.
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