NBA Rumors: Latest on Joe Johnson, Markieff Morris Trade Talks and More

While most of the major July signings are over less than a week into free agency, the NBA rumor mill isn't close to drying up.

Teams that struck out in free agency are trying to save face, teams that won in free agency are trying to add depth and the teams in between are finding ways to take advantage. Tuesday's trade of David Lee to Boston, first reported by ESPN's Marc Stein, was the first of what should be quite a few moves in the coming weeks.

On the other hand, before there are actual moves, there must be speculation about what could potentially lie ahead. Keep in mind we knew the Warriors were moving Lee before the draft even began; it's typically a slow build before deals actually get done.

With that in mind, let's take a look around the league at some of the latest trade rumors.

'Nothing Cooking' on Joe Johnson/Cavs Deal

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The Nets' desire to trade Joe Johnson is no secret. Shaving part of his $24.89 million salary for 2015-16 off the books would save Brooklyn, which is in dreaded repeater tax territory, untold millions in luxury tax payments.

Finding a team with a non-guaranteed contract—attached to, let's say, an aging 7-footer who got paid a sizable chunk of money last season precisely so he could be floated in trade talks this summer—would be ideal.

Unsurprisingly, reporters connected the dots and highlighted the Cavaliers and Nets as potential bedfellows. Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reported the two sides were centered on a Johnson-for-Brendan Haywood deal, which would likely have to involve Anderson Varejao for cap purposes.

Assuming Brooklyn would cut Haywood's non-guaranteed $10.5 million salary, the deal could pad owner Mikhail Prokhorov's pockets with tens of millions in savings.

One problem: Joe Johnson is a basketball player. The Cavaliers are offering floating bodies as contracts. With Brooklyn not having a draft pick until roughly 2155, general manager Billy King has to weigh the cost-benefit of trading Johnson for nothing in basketball assets.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported the Nets have backed away from talks with Cleveland and Memphis regarding Johnson, likely for that reason.

Brooklyn has all the incentive in the world to make the playoffs for the foreseeable future. Johnson, even at age 34, is a solid two-way player who acts as the offensive fulcrum when Brook Lopez is off the floor.

Prokhorov has been pushing to cut costs for more than a year, according to the New York Post's Josh Kosman (h/t Nets Daily). But if he's willing to take the luxury tax hit one more year, King would be smart to hold pat.

Otherwise, an already historically bad trade will look even worse as Boston reaps the draft-pick rewards.

Suns Looking to Move Remaining Morris Twin

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Given the choice between hopping in a pit of piranhas and playing basketball apart, the Morris Twins may prefer the former. Their close bond was one of the best part of watching Suns games in recent seasons; rarely would one be walking back to the bench without shadowing the other.

When negotiating their rookie extensions, Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough took the unprecedented step of allowing them to divvy a pool of money themselves.

Then it all came crashing down. Marcus was the first to go as part of Phoenix's latest roster retooling, as he'll be shipped to Detroit along with Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock once the moratorium lifts, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Markieff responded with understandable frustration:

Now, it appears McDonough is ready to get some relief from Keef (sorry). Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post reported the Suns have begun having exploratory conversations with teams about Markieff Morris.

Schultz cites Morris' fractured relationship with head coach Jeff Hornacek, which may give you a window into why Phoenix was getting out of the twinsies business to begin with. (Logic dictates if you don't get along with one, you don't with the other.)

What's interesting here is that, unlike the Marcus trade, Phoenix doesn't have to rush into any decisions. It's already lost out on the LaMarcus Aldridge chase, and there aren't any other major free-agent options worth chasing.

Morris is heading into the first of a four-year, $32 million extension, which by 2015 NBA standards looks like a complete bargain. He's upped his scoring averages in each of his four seasons and has developed into a decent-enough outside shooter and passer.

Some team will give up a future first or solid young asset for Morris. Unfortunately for the Morris Twins, I wouldn't bet on it being the Pistons.

Heat, Cavs Inquiring About Jamal Crawford

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

In a post-DeAndre Jordan world, no one quite knows what to make of the Clippers' future. Shams Charania of RealGM reported the team came to an agreement with Wesley Johnson, which helps fill wing depth but does little to fill the 7-foot hole in the middle. Assuming the Clippers don't make any more moves, Johnson will join J.J. Redick, Lance Stephenson and Jamal Crawford to fill their wing depth.

Of course, nothing is certain at this point with the Clippers. They desperately need to find a starting center and lack financial resources. There are some sign-and-trade wranglings that could re-open the full mid-level exception, a large portion of which was used on Paul Pierce. (Who signed assuming only the taxpayer MLE was available.)

Doing so would require cooperation from the Wizards and the sacrifice of yet another Clippers asset, of which there are decidedly few. One player who is garnering some level of attention is Jamal Crawford, who the Cavaliers and Heat have inquired about, per Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com.

In theory, the Clippers could find a workable three-team deal that would land them Brendan Haywood's non-guaranteed contract and Pierce. Haywood could then be parlayed into a usable starting center while opening up the mid-level exception for a backup for Blake Griffin. The Clippers would have to be careful to avoid going over the luxury tax—the full MLE is only available to non-tax teams—but it's possible with some creativity.

Either way, the Clippers are a must-watch team the remainder of the summer.

Around the League

• Grantland's Zach Lowe reported the Heat have made Chris Andersen and Mario Chalmers available for "nothing." They've also floated Shabazz Napier's name in talks, hoping to find salary-cap room going into 2016.
• Schultz reported the Suns are pursuing Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson. Seems unlikely New Orleans would give up on Anderson now, especially with his value low around the league following a down season.
• Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reported the Lakers are attempting to move guard Nick Young. Gooooooooood luck.

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