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Brooklyn Nets: Trading Joe Johnson to Los Angeles Lakers would make sense

By Nick Ziegler

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The Brooklyn Nets have had a very good offseason so far with the limitations they had going into it.

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Nets’ general manager Billy King was able to re-sign both Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, which was the most important thing for the team this offseason. King also made two smaller signings that will help add youth and athleticism with the signing of Shane Larking and Thomas Robinson.

With the recent signings, the Nets are still above the luxury tax threshold, which is something they will be trying to get under.

Two of the players that King will be looking to trade are Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Williams will certainly be the harder player to move, as he has a player option for the 2016-17 season which he would be crazy not to exercise after poor seasons. The far more moveable player is Johnson, whose contract will expire at the end of next season.

Having salary cap for next season is going to be very important to teams, and Johnson’s expiring contract will provide that.

One of the teams that have flopped in free agency so far this offseason has been the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s no secret that the Lakers are trying to acquire a star player via free agency, but so far they have been unsuccessful. With LaMarcus Aldridge signing with the San Antonio Spurs, DeAndre Jordan going to the Dallas Mavericks, and Greg Monroe joining the Milwaukee Bucks, the Lakers have once again struck out.

The Lakers will once again look to land a star next offseason, but they can use a player like Joe Johnson to improve this season, and also create more cap space next offseason. If Johnson were to be traded to the Lakers, Los Angeles can have nearly $70 million in cap space next season.

Although Johnson isn’t an All-Star caliber player anymore, he would fit well on a team with Kobe Bryant, D’Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle. Last season, Johnson averaged 14.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers aren’t worth the nearly $25 million he is due next season, but they do mean he is still more than a serviceable player in NBA.

The Nets wouldn’t get anything worthwhile back from the Lakers likely for Johnson, but it would help their luxury tax situation. Brooklyn added Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in a draft day trade, who could replace Johnson as the starting small forward next season.

King will surely be trying to trade both Williams and Johnson this offseason, and moving Johnson to the Lakers would make a lot of sense for both teams.

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