NBA Trade Rumors: Nets, Hornets discussing Joe Johnson for Lance Stephenson

By Evan Massey | Jan 25, 2015

Nov 5, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) drives past Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade (3) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 96-89. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

The Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets have rekindled trade talks, and are focusing on a Joe Johnson for Lance Stephenson swap.

Lance Stephenson and Joe Johnson have both seen their names in trade rumors this season, and it appears there is a chance they will be traded for each other. According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets are discussing a swap of the two players.

Yahoo Sources: Charlotte, Brooklyn restart trade talks. This time, the focus is Joe Johnson. http://t.co/UQyp4u1vOV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 26, 2015

It would certainly be an interesting trade for both teams.

Charlotte was expecting Stephenson to be the missing piece that would help them make a run in the playoffs this year, and that simply hasn’t happened. Johnson, on the other hand, is being shopped by the Nets so they can lose his contract and focus on rebuilding.

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While Stephenson would be the biggest piece that the Nets would get back in the deal, both Gerald Henderson and Marvin Williams have been rumored to be included as well.

Charlotte just took the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference away from Brooklyn. The Hornets are 19-26 on the season, while the Nets are sitting at 18-26. Both of these teams could improve with the qualities that they would be getting back in the deal.

Stephenson would love to be traded back to Brooklyn, as it would be something of a homecoming for him. He is averaging 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Those numbers aren’t even close to what the Hornets were expecting to receive from him, and he hasn’t brought energy or a confident attitude to Charlotte either.

Johnson is averaging 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. At 33 years of age, he doesn’t have the upside that Stephenson does but would likely be a better fit for the next couple of years for the Hornets. His shooting ability would be a very welcome addition, and he would be the third scorer alongside of Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson that they have been needing.

All of that being said, it is going to be a very intriguing trade season with the trading deadline coming up on February 19th.

There have already been quite a few high-profile trades this year, and this would be yet another. Expect to see these talks continue, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the two teams agree to something before the deadline.

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