HoopsHype.com Rumors

Stefan Bondy: Joe johnson thinks he deserves an all-star spot: "Definitely, if they're going to keep doubling and tripling me as hard as they doing." Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, All-Star 

Joe Johnson has a personal reason to push a campaign against blood cancers. His mother has been diagnosed with leukemia and he has joined the campaign to get people to join the blood marrow registry. Johnson has become national spokesman Delete Blood Cancer and starting Friday vs. the Hawks, fans will be able to register at Barclays Center. Between now and the end of the season, the Delete Blood Cancer team will be at the Barclays Center five times to educate and register anyone who is eligible and wants to join the fight. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Josh Newman: Joe Johnson balked this morning when asked if his six-year, $119 million contract was more of an issue than his actual play in Atlanta. Twitter @Joshua_Newman

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

This weekend, Brooklyn Nets fans will learn to say "defense" in Russian. On Jan. 13, the Nets will host An Evening of Russian Culture during a game against the Indiana Pacers, which coincides with Old Russian New Year's Eve. Famed Russian concert violinist Alexander Markov will perform the national anthem before the game and again at halftime. Russian entertainer Oleg Kolomyets is slated to introduce the starting players, and Russian music will also be incorporated throughout the game. Nets players Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez will appear in a video in which they sample fare from Manhattan restaurant The Russian Samovar. Crain's

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Russia, Brook Lopez 

As part of the Joe Johnson trade, the Nets quietly agreed to permit the Hawks to swap first picks with Brooklyn in both 2014 and 2015, according to a league source. The Nets can still trade the picks, the source told NetsDaily. NetsDaily

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson 

Mike Prada: Andray Blatche began his media session by saying it was "good" to be back. Joe Johnson's response as he walked by? "Tell the truth" Twitter @MikePradaSBN

Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Joe Johnson, Andray Blatche 

"He's pretty forward, man," Johnson said before the Nets played the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena Wednesday night. "He just kind of tells you like it is. If you ain't playing worth a ----, he'll tell you, you ain't playing worth a ----. As players, some of us may respond a little different to it, but for me, I can appreciate it. Newsday

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Coaching, PJ Carlesimo 

It was quick. And whoever the lucky fellow that succeeds Johnson happens to be will have to deal with the outsized expectations that accompanied the team’s relocation to Brooklyn. The Nets and their zillionaire owner, Mikhail D. Prokhorov, want success and they want it now. With the second highest payroll in the NBA, the franchise wants to co-opt those fair-weather Knicks fans. Johnson was the first victim of those expectations. HoopsHype

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Joe Johnson, Coaching 

Johnson was said to be quite surprised when the news came down on Thursday that he would no longer be the head coach. He shouldn’t have been. He didn’t just fall of the turnip truck. He’s been around long enough to know that it had to be coming the moment Prokhorov told him ‘nyet’ on a contract extension. That’s not an excuse. That’s just the way it is. Yes, there may have been locker room issues, but those things can be exacerbated when you have the situation that was going on in Brooklyn. “In this business, you got to have the power, in terms of the ability to coach – and the respect,” Johnson said. “It would help if you do have a contract that the players respect. That’s the nature of our business.” HoopsHype

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Joe Johnson, Coaching 

"We're not running our sets right, or we're not completing them," Joe Johnson said. "It's been killing us." CBSSports.com

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Danny Ferry's dilemma, according to one opposing GM: the Atlanta Hawks match or exceed last year's .600 winning percentage despite dealing away Joe Johnson and Larry Drew wins NBA Coach of the Year. Success, the GM's theory goes, will make it all the harder for Ferry to tear down and rebuild the team as he see fits. Sulia

Atlanta Hawks, Joe Johnson, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Larry Drew 

When King traded for Joe Johnson and the $60 million left on his contract, an Eastern Conference GM called King and congratulated him on securing Williams' commitment to stay a Net. Only, King told the executive, he had done it with no assurances. "What?" the GM said. "Well, you've got big…" Yahoo! Sports

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Billy King 

We told you about the new uniforms the NBA is rolling out for its slate of games on Christmas Day, and now we have a commercial featuring Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Joe Johnson, Russell Westbrook, and Dwyane Wade modeling the new gear. The video clip above is an ad for the BIG Color collection, and has the players dribbling in rhythm their own rendition of ”Carol of the Bells.” NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook, Merchandising 

But, along the way, Johnson came to be defined by something totally out of his control: his six-year contract for more than $120 million signed in July 2010. Suddenly, a player who was incredibly productive for the Hawks was only thought of in terms of the dollar value on his contract. “Look at it this way,” Woodson said. “If somebody offers you $120 million, are you supposed to say, ‘I don’t want it?’ I mean, come on. “To me, it’s all relative. My thing is this: Is the guy a competitor? Does he play at a high level? I think he does, and I think Brooklyn has landed a solid player that’s a nice piece to their puzzle. It doesn’t get much better at the two spot than him.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Josh Childress was a teammate of Johnson’s in Atlanta and is again this season with the Nets. When he sees Johnson now, Childress admits he sees a different person than the one who had the weight of a franchise on his shoulders in Atlanta. “I see a more relaxed guy,” Childress said. “Not from an intensity standpoint, but more from a ‘I don’t have to do everything, or do as much as I was doing’ one. He can just play and play freely, and not have to worry about shouldering the load.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Darnell Mayberry: Russell Westbrook will be featured in an upcoming "BIG" commercial. Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard & Joe Johnson also to appear Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook 

Nets guard Joe Johnson thinks the world of Mike D'Antoni, but even he was kind of surprised when his former coach was named the Lakers coach Monday. “I dunno,” Johnson said when asked his reaction to D'Antoni hiring to lead the Lakers. “I just think he's a great coach. I definitely think he's a great coach, a great friend of mine, a guy who really gave me an opportunity in this league, so I am glad to see him back coaching.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

The Nets brought in Johnson this offseason to try and turn the page on their losing past in New Jersey. So far, Johnson’s transition to the Nets has been inconsistent. A five-time All-Star, Johnson too is trying to find his place with Williams. Johnson, averaging 13.8 points per game through the first three games, is slightly off his career average of 17.7 points per game. “It’s going to come for me. It just takes time. I just need to get acclimated with everybody, and I think things will come. Right now it’s early, we’ve only played three games. We just have a lot of room for improvement,” Johnson said. “I’m getting there. I just thought (Friday) night I miss a lot of shots I normally make but I’m still learning Deron’s sweet spots on the court, the things he likes to do, the places he likes to catch the ball.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Even though the Nets have since acquired Deron Williams and Joe Johnson to become a legitimate playoff threat, James said they were too much of a project at the time. "It was hard to, where they were at the time," James said. "I mean, honestly, I got an opportunity to talk to their owner and talk to coach (Avery) Johnson. I had a great meeting with those guys … I'm happy where I landed. I'm happy I'm here." The Nets also made a pitch to Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who enjoyed the visit but jokingly said he was disappointed part owner Jay-Z spoke with him over the phone. The hip-hop star met with James in person because they are close friends. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams 

In preseason Nets were talking titles and being best team in NYC. Now, this from Avery after 30-point loss to Heat: "Nobody said we're on Miami's level. Nobody ever said it," said coach Avery Johnson, either ignoring or unaware that Joe Johnson said the Nets can beat the Heat to win a title this season. "We're definitely not there after three games in the regular season. ...So we're not there yet. Sulia

Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Joe Johnson