NBA Rumors: Pistons interested in acquiring Joe Johnson

The Detroit Pistons seem to be buzzing around the NBA trade deadline rumors and now they’re being linked to Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson.

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The Detroit Pistons have had one of the weirder NBA seasons thus far. A team that fell so hard, so early in the season to a 3-19 record, only to release the “best” and highest payed player on their team, John Smith, and go on a huge win streak, beating teams like the Spurs, Mavericks, Cavaliers, Raptors and making themselves look like a threat to everyone. Only now, they’ve lost a key part of their lineup, Brandon Jennings, for the rest of the season with an ACL tear.

Now, Detroit will look to add players in order to keep themselves in the playoff hunt and eventually get in and cause some damage by forming a wall, according to eccentric head coach Stan Van Gundy. A couple names have now surfaced for Detroit. These include the Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who played at Michigan State, and now Brooklyn Nets veteran guard Joe Johnson according to ESPN New York’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

"Hearing Detroit has reached out to Nets to inquire about Joe Johnson according to league sources. — Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 17, 2015"

"Detroit’s interest in Joe Johnson included reaching out to Nets about a package of Brandon Jennings + expiring contracts for Joe per sources — Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 17, 2015"

The Pistons need to add a flare to their lineup as they are finding themselves slipping, going 4-7 in their last 11 games, but still remaining just two games behind the Heat for the eighth playoff spot in the east.

The Nets have been looking to dump Johnson as well as Deron Williams all year. With injured Jennings, the Pistons may splurge on another point guard, but as long as Jennings is on pace to return in the offseason, I don’t see them shopping both.

Now, this trade doesn’t really make sense for a Pistons team that will still be paying off Josh Smith’s massive contract for years, only to welcome in one of the highest paid players in the NBA in Johnson, who will get $23.2 million this year and $24.9 million next season. The Pistons can’t simply afford this 33-year-old who wants to be paid like a 24-year-old superstar. Not happening. If Detroit splurges on Johnson, they’ll have no money to pay Greg Monroe this offseason and no money to replace him if he leaves.

Let’s not forget Detroit’s terrible history of signing high-paid veterans (cough, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups part two) after they pass their prime. Not that Johnson is a 37-year-old free agent, but he’s well past his prime. He’s averaging 15.5 points per game, an average that has gone down almost every year since averaging 25 a game in the 06-07 season.

Detroit Free Press Pistons beat writer Vince Ellis tweeted that Pistons head coach and president of basketball operation Stan Van Gundy said he isn’t going to make a move that will hurt next year:

"SVG last week on the deadline: “We will not make a move that will make us better for the last 28 games and hurt us into next year.” — Vincent Ellis (@Vincent_Ellis56) February 17, 2015"

So don’t, Stan. Look somewhere else.

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