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Report: Joe Johnson, Nets negotiating buyout; Cavs, Thunder interested

Courtesy of USA Today Images

Joe Johnson’s time as a focal point for the Brooklyn Nets is coming to an end. ESPN’s Marc Stein reports the franchise is negotiating a buyout for the 34-year-old veteran.

Don’t feel too bad for Johnson, though. He already has a few teams prepared to cushion the fall.

Stein added the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are among seven teams in pursuit of the 6-foot-7, 245-pound swingman. The Atlanta Hawks, one of Johnson’s former clubs, are also in the hunt with the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.

In other words, four of the top clubs in the Eastern Conference, one of the biggest championship contenders in the West and a total of seven playoff teams are looking to sign Johnson.

Although he’s not exactly a tremendous prize, Johnson can still contribute as a third or fourth option. Despite averaging just 11.8 points — his lowest mark since 2002-03 — Johnson has dished 4.1 assists per game and buried 37.1 percent of his three-point attempts.

Cleveland could use perimeter depth, and Oklahoma City desperately needs an outside shooter to complement Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. According to Vorped, Johnson has knocked down 45.8 percent of his threes from the right corner and 42.9 from straight on.

Each of the other teams Stein mentioned are good fits for Johnson, who would bolster Atlanta’s bench, offer Boston a scoring boost, solidify Toronto’s wings and provide both Houston and Miami a much-needed three-point option.

Most importantly for Johnson, he’ll have a chance to pursue ring No. 1 instead of the first overall selection in the 2016 NBA draft.

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