The Brooklyn Nets and Joe Johnson have worked out a buyout agreement, and the veteran guard has effectively been waived by the team. These talks have reportedly been going on between the two recently and finally came to fruition.
Johnson’s release continues the process of getting rid of the former core of the team, as the franchise is in the midst of a rebuild.
Because Johnson was released before March 1, he is eligible to join a contender and participate in the playoffs. As you can imagine, several teams are reportedly interested in his services.
Sources said that Johnson had been sold on the idea of joining a contender for the stretch run if he and the Nets could come to terms on a contract settlement.
A number of likely playoff teams, sources said, are already pursuing Johnson: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Miami, Oklahoma City and Toronto. Sources said that Johnson, who can’t clear waivers until 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, is likely to take a couple days to sift through the offers.
Johnson, 34, is earning $24.9 million this season in the final year of a mammoth six-year, $124 million deal that was the league’s largest at the time when he signed it with the Hawks in 2010
H/T: ESPN
