DEAL WITH IT
Prospect of trade doesn’t faze Nets’ Johnson
In his 15th NBA season, the Nets’ Joe Johnson can look back on a career that has included 10 trips to the playoffs and seven AllStar Game appearances. If he views the present, he sees an unbearably tough situation that most sane folks would seek to flee, but one that his professionalism insists he fight through. When he ties to determine the future, Johnson finds only uncertainty.
So at 34 years old with a final contract year of $24.894 million, Johnson likely will be linked again with words such as “trade” or “buyout.” Johnson said Monday after Nets practice he has heard nothing on either front and will not ask to be traded.
“I’m a professional, man. Obviously this late in my career, this isn’t the ideal situation. But I’m not forcing anything,” said Johnson, who is averaging just 11.3 points this season — far below his career average of 17.0 points and his lowest average since 200203.
“I haven’t went to management and asked for anything. I come to work dayin, dayout to compete and have fun. That’s what it’s about,” Johnson said. “Obviously this is a tough situation, but we’re all in this together.”
In the past, Johnson’s name sur faced in trade rumors, including one with the Cavaliers. But it has been quiet so far this season, and league sources insist there have been no talks at all concerning a buyout.
“Honestly, I haven’t heard nothing. Obviously me and my agent [Jeff Schwartz], we talk from time to time, but nothing’s come up that I feel like something is going to happen,” said Johnson, who added he will talk with Schwartz soon to discuss options. “Whether or not it comes up, I don’t know, but we’ll talk.”
For now, there is little other than to continue fighting the disappointment of a 1237 season for the Nets, who face the Pacers at Bar clays Center on Wednesday night.
One motivation keeps propelling Johnson.
“The love of the game,” said Johnson, who had a threepoint clunker against Detroit on Monday after averaging 13.5 points over his previous 16 starts. “Once you lose that love of the game you don’t need to even be playing no more. At this point, regardless of the record, we still have a job, it still is our profession. We all make pretty good money, so we can’t complain.”
Johnson is headed toward free agency and did not discount staying a Net.
“I’m not saying that’s not possible,” he said.
He said he would like to play “another two, maybe three years” and wants a chance to win again.
“I just want a winning situation,” Johnson said. “It’s not going to be to no highest bidder or nothing like that, I just want to make sure the situation’s right for me.
“The game has been so good to me. I can’t complain about anything. I’ve played on great teams, I’ve played on teams that I think were championshipcaliber. I’ve had my chances and obviously the last couple years, I really just want to enjoy it and play on great teams.”