The Brooklyn Nets are one of the three worst teams in the NBA this season so far, and they have almost no chance of making the playoffs. For players like Joe Johnson, that situation isn't exactly ideal, and it would make sense for Johnson to want out of Brooklyn for the rest of this season. Johnson has said that he will not demand a trade from the Nets to a contender, according to Andy Vasquez of The Record, but a buyout does remain an option.
Trading Johnson would be nearly impossible for the Nets this season anyway because he is the second highest paid player in the league, but a buyout is always an option. Johnson has said that he hasn't talked to his agent about a potential buyout yet, but that talk is coming and they may decide that it is the best option for him. Of course the Nets have to agree to a buyout, and they have little motivation to do so considering they don't have a first round pick and want to win as many games as possible. Still though, if Johnson wants a buyout, they aren't expected to hold him prisoner and having Johnson gone will allow them to get younger players more playing time.
Johnson receiving a buyout from the Nets is no guarantee, but if it were to happen, he would likely garner a lot of interest. Johnson isn't exactly having a banner year, but still, teams like the Miami Heat would like his veteran leadership and scoring ability, according to Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald.
The Heat certainly have tax concerns they would need to deal with if they wanted to bring Johnson along, but his fit certainly makes sense. Johnson is making just 39 percent of his field goals this season, but he is shooting 35 percent from three, and that is an area where Miami needs a lot of help. The Heat are one of the worst perimeter shooting teams in the NBA and recently lost one of their best shooters to a long-term injury, so they have been scouring free agency for shooters.
The Heat have reportedly talked to guys like Ray Allen, who is likely not coming out of retirement, and Dorell Wright, who is getting a lot of other interest, so they see the need and hope to fill it. Johnson makes sense because if he is bought out, he would likely still be making plenty of money from the Nets and wouldn't command too much from the Heat. It is still very unclear if a buyout will be agreed upon, but Johnson would seem to have a vast market should it happen.
