One Trade That Every Team Should Do
Charlotte gets: SG Joe Johnson
Brooklyn gets: SG Lance Stephenson, SG/SF Gerald Henderson, SF/PF Marvin Williams
Finances: This trade also has lots of financial motivations from both sides, as Johnson has a disastrous $48 million owed over the next 2 years. However, Stephenson, Williams, and Henderson are all overpaid in their own right, as they are due a combined $22 million annually over the next 2 years. Stephenson isn’t necessarily a bad contract, as his 3 year/$27 million deal with a team option on the third year that was signed this offseason was thought to be a steal, that is, until his extremely disappointing campaign this year. Packaging three bad contracts for one bad contract of about the same total value doesn’t really figure to change much for the Hornets’ finances, despite the large figures in this deal.
The Fit: Though overpaid and aging, Johnson is still one heck of a scorer, averaging 15.5 points and 1.5 threes per game, in addition to being one of the best closers and most clutch players basketball has to offer. He also chips in 4.5 rebounds and 4 assists a game. Losing Stephenson’s all-around play, Henderson’s small scoring punch and Williams’ unique combination of floor-spacing and adding a few rebounds hurts, but not a lot. Johnson can come in and, along with PG Kemba Walker and C Al Jefferson, carry the offense and hopefully the team as well into a playoff berth.
Why the other team does it: It’s been no secret that the Nets are aggressively shopping “The Overpaid Trio” featuring Johnson as well as PG Deron Williams and C Brook Lopez. Receiving smaller, more easily moveable, overpaid parts while not giving up any assets that would be used to get rid of them makes a ton of sense for a team that is hungry to clear cap space, with no intention of winning right now. Stephenson may actually not end up having such a bad contract after all, as maybe a change of scenery is all he needs. Even so, Brooklyn sheds a small amount of salary in this deal and puts themselves in a better place to do so again in the future.
Charlotte gets: SG Joe Johnson
Brooklyn gets: SG Lance Stephenson, SG/SF Gerald Henderson, SF/PF Marvin Williams
Finances: This trade also has lots of financial motivations from both sides, as Johnson has a disastrous $48 million owed over the next 2 years. However, Stephenson, Williams, and Henderson are all overpaid in their own right, as they are due a combined $22 million annually over the next 2 years. Stephenson isn’t necessarily a bad contract, as his 3 year/$27 million deal with a team option on the third year that was signed this offseason was thought to be a steal, that is, until his extremely disappointing campaign this year. Packaging three bad contracts for one bad contract of about the same total value doesn’t really figure to change much for the Hornets’ finances, despite the large figures in this deal.
The Fit: Though overpaid and aging, Johnson is still one heck of a scorer, averaging 15.5 points and 1.5 threes per game, in addition to being one of the best closers and most clutch players basketball has to offer. He also chips in 4.5 rebounds and 4 assists a game. Losing Stephenson’s all-around play, Henderson’s small scoring punch and Williams’ unique combination of floor-spacing and adding a few rebounds hurts, but not a lot. Johnson can come in and, along with PG Kemba Walker and C Al Jefferson, carry the offense and hopefully the team as well into a playoff berth.
Why the other team does it: It’s been no secret that the Nets are aggressively shopping “The Overpaid Trio” featuring Johnson as well as PG Deron Williams and C Brook Lopez. Receiving smaller, more easily moveable, overpaid parts while not giving up any assets that would be used to get rid of them makes a ton of sense for a team that is hungry to clear cap space, with no intention of winning right now. Stephenson may actually not end up having such a bad contract after all, as maybe a change of scenery is all he needs. Even so, Brooklyn sheds a small amount of salary in this deal and puts themselves in a better place to do so again in the future.