Joe Johnson to Nets: Trade Instantly One of Worst in NBA History

This is a trade that will live in infamy.

What’s dumber than signing a non-superstar to a six-year, $119 million deal? Trading for the same player with four years and over $90 million left on the contract.

Chris Broussard of ESPN reported the swap heard round the world on Monday, tweeting:

"

Sources confirm Hawks and Nets have agreed to terms on deal to send Joe Johnson to Nets. Deal contingent on Deron Williams staying w/Nets

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 2, 2012"

Joe Johnson is a perfect fit for the Brooklyn Nets.

New York City is all about big names, and Johnson, being a six-time All-Star and the highest paid player in the league, is a big name. His numbers also annually plummet in the postseason, and Billy King couldn’t actually be attempting to build a championship contender, right? I mean, what he’s doing defies all logic.

Sure, four out of the last five NBA Finals were won as a result of a blockbuster, or series of blockbuster acquisitions. The Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat formed Big Threes, and the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Pau Gasol.

But every single move that those three teams made was methodical. Not one acquisition—Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Chris Bosh or Gasol—was questioned around the league. As Matt Moore of CBS Sports put it…

"

People who think this deal is a good idea;Nets, Nets fans, Dwight Howard.... That's it.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) July 3, 2012"

Now, Brooklyn can shut everyone up by dealing for Dwight Howard and winning a championship. But is that likely to happen? No way.

In the history of the NBA, not one title has been won by assembling a top-heavy team of overpaid players.

Howard and Deron Williams are superstars. Johnson and Wallace aren’t even worthy of being called stars at this point in their careers. Brooklyn won’t get even remotely close to their money’s worth out of those two.

And if you thought the Heat were top-heavy, Brooklyn is primed to rewrite the meaning of having a lack of depth.

Go ahead and write it in the record books now— Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets: the Worst Trade in NBA History.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels