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The Brooklyn Nets waived guard Joe Johnson today in order to allow him to sign on with a playoff contender. His leaving marks the end of an era of high hopes and massive disappointment in Brooklyn, an era that will be felt for years to come.
Nets waive former All-Star guard Joe Johnson. pic.twitter.com/fkzS9IpCvI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2016
Johnson was once the highest-paid player in the NBA after inking a six-year, $124 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Two years in, he was dealt to the Nets who took on the remaining four years and $89.3 million. It was hoped teaming Johnson with Deron Williams, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett would give the Nets a legitimate shot at a championship. They won just one playoff series, however.
In order to make their championship run, the Nets won’t have a first-round pick until 2019 and they will most certainly be lottery eligible in each season between now and then.
The Nets couldn’t have seen Williams imploding and becoming unhappy. They couldn’t have foreseen the injuries to Brook Lopez that made them almost impotent in the paint. They couldn’t have envisioned Johnson losing a step and becoming a perimeter player only. It was, however, fairly easy to see Garnett and Pierce having limited life with the Nets. One can’t blame them entirely for going for it, but everyone knew if they missed this chance they were going back to being an afterthought in the NBA, and that is exactly where they are.
The window slammed shut in a hurry. Johnson will go on to another team as a bit player and potentially be just enough to bring some team, most likely the Cleveland Cavaliers, a championship. Johnson gets his shot at a ring and the Nets are left with nothing but disappointment. Is there anything that defines the Nets more than that? It makes Nets fans pine for the days of Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. It might be decades before the Nets are able to get out of the hole that they put themselves in chasing a championship.
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