Atlanta Hawks Win in Joe Johnson to Brooklyn Nets Trade

Apparently, according to Marc Stein at ESPN, Joe Johnson can be had at the low, low, cost of  "Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams and DeShawn Stevenson." This would be fantastic for Brooklyn if money were no object. 

Now, Atlanta did not get much value back from the Nets in giving away Joe Johnson, and that was the idea. The Hawks have a new GM in Danny Ferry and he didn't love the massive contract he inherited. He simply wanted out of Johnson's more than $100 million commitment, and that achievement is enough to declare Atlanta the winner of this deal. 

The Nets could have certainly done worse, though. They retain their assets (draft picks, Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace) for a possible run at Dwight Howard. The Nets likely made this trade with the consent of Deron Williams, so perhaps the trade helps ensure his long-term presence in Brooklyn. 

I still don't love it from a Nets perspective. Money may be no object for New Jersey's billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, but this trade likely eliminates the option of signing a major free agent going forward, per CBA restrictions on cap-exceeding teams. From here, the Nets can only improve via trade, and not through the market. Is Joe Johnson's declining production worth that concession? I think not.

In contrast, Atlanta has finally rebooted a franchise in need of an overhaul. It would be deliciously funny if this Nets trade enables the Hawks to sign hometown kid Dwight Howard in 2013.