Joe Johnson (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets are struggling big time early in the NBA 2015-2016 season and are very well poised to become the league's worst team this year, which creates speculations that the franchise is already heading towards rebuilding.
In RealGM forum, a list of Nets players are proposed to be traded and the most likely expendable ballers are Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack. The projected swap, according to the forum, will be for New Orleans Pelicans' Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon.
Johnson was once considered as a cornerstone of the Nets franchise, but the former Atlanta Hawk has been struggling to find his elite form in Brooklyn's first few games.
Ever since his career highlight with the Hawks in the 2005-2006 season, Johnson's career points average has gradually decreased and it seems it is heading towards the same path this year.
In the Nets' first seven outings, Johnson has played 33.4 of solid minutes on the court, but he only averaged 10.3 points on 32.9 percent shooting from the field. His three-point percentage has also dramatically declined to a dismal 17.4 percent.
Jack, on the other hand, is also playing a disappointing season at the point guard position so far. His numbers are solid with 12.7 points per contests, but his turnovers have increased and his shooting percentage is below his career average of 44.2 percent.
For the Pelicans, Anderson has not started a game yet, but in his first six games of the season, he posted averages of 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds, while Gordon, who has been limited by injuries in the past four years, looks healthy with an average of 17.8 points on 36.2 minutes of action.
Both teams are struggling early in the season and a roster shakeup would certainly benefit one or the other. However, the trade proposal does not make sense to the Nets.
The Pelicans would instantly benefit from Johnson's scoring abilities, which could help carry the workload from Anthony Davis, but for the Nets, what they need is a solid point guard who can change the game and put up solid numbers.
Moreover, according to Sportige, Johnson has an impossible contract to move despite playing in his last year.
To put it simply, the Nets are loaded with frontcourt talents and lack backcourt contributions.
One thing is for sure, though. Trades proposals from the Nets and the Pelicans to other NBA rivals will surely emerge if the both teams continue to play as the worst ball clubs in the league.
