HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Hawks planned on staying the course, with Joe Johnson headlining their team, if Rick Sund had decided to commit to a new long-term deal to stay on as general manager. Despite his team’s inability to win more than one round in recent seasons, Sund thought his core group of players, led by Johnson and Al Horford and with several others hitting the prime of their careers, could have gone deep into the postseason in 2012-13. But when Sund declined to stay long- term, the Hawks brought in former Cavs GM Danny Ferry to replace him as their chief decision-maker, with Sund now serving as Ferry’s adviser. Ferry was willing to make changes and that’s the only reason Johnson became expendable. New York Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Danny Ferry, Rick Sund 

“If the Hawks don’t make that change, then there’s a very good chance that Deron Williams would be in Dallas and Dwight Howard might also be on his way there,” said one NBA executive. “The Nets were very fortunate that Johnson became available, and in the end it probably killed the Mavs’ plans.” New York Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Trade, Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams 

The man called Iso-Joe did not ask for the nickname, or the ball-dominating style that spawned it, or the burdens of a one-man show. The label suggests self-indulgence, and the modest, soft-speaking fellow from Little Rock, Ark., hardly fits the caricature. “I don’t know where the Iso-Joe comes from,” said Joe Johnson, sounding more bemused than annoyed. New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

The Suns’ offense was all about tempo, spacing and ball movement — the antithesis of isolation play. Given a choice, Johnson prefers an ensemble. “When I started in Phoenix, there wasn’t no Iso-Joe,” Johnson said. “I basically played off of Amar’e and Steve Nash and Shawn and those guys. This is a similar situation for me here in Brooklyn.” New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Ideally, the two All-Stars should take pressure off each other. Williams has never had a teammate as talented as Johnson. Johnson has not played with an elite point guard since leaving Phoenix. Defenses will have to think twice now before sending double teams at either one. “I’m definitely enjoying playing with Joe,” Williams said. “He has a great feel for the game.” New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams 

“Brooklyn’s Backcourt” is so good, Avery Johnson thinks at least half of it always needs to be on the floor. The Nets coach made sure his All-Star backcourt of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson played together in Friday night’s scrimmage. But he’s also trying to figure out how he’s going to deploy both of them in games this season with the idea of always having at least one of them on the court. “We’ve made a concerted effort to have them playing together in practice, drills, scrimmages, and then we have to figure out which one of those guys we want to lead our second team — because we’re not going to play a true second team this year,” Johnson said after yesterday’s practice. “We don’t think we can have Deron and Joe out of the game at the same time, so that’s something else we’re trying to develop.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams 

The adjustment is probably most difficult for Wallace, a 30-year-old of few words with a voice so deep it has been mistaken for Barry White’s. While Joe Johnson says he’s “like a chameleon,” able to shift from Little Rock to his Manhattan home with ease, Wallace is more country than most. “I’m afraid of New York City,” the 6-foot-7 forward said. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Joe Johnson wanted to set the record straight on Thursday, telling reporters that he never asked out of Atlanta. “Everybody thinks I made this trade,” the Nets' shooting guard said. “I had nothing to do with it. “Every time I run into somebody when I’m in Atlanta, they ask me, ‘Why did you leave?’ I didn’t have nothing to do with it. I’m just glad that I came to a great organization and a team who wants to win.” ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson 

Johnson, who was acquired by the Nets in a blockbuster trade, was originally asked if he thought he’d be booed when he returned to Atlanta. The Hawks host the Nets on Jan. 16. “It’ll probably be some boos, it’ll probably be some cheers,” he replied. “I have no idea, man. What do you think?” ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson 

Problem is, Johnson isn't playing in Atlanta or Phoenix anymore. He's in Brooklyn, home of one of the biggest stories of this NBA season. Home of the Russian billionaire playboy owner and his superstar hip-hop protege. Home of a team Johnson believes can win the NBA championship. So if Johnson has his way and helps the Nets get anywhere near the NBA title, his peaceful and serene little existence is history. The guy from Little Rock will be the toast of the biggest city in the nation. In a word, he'll be "rock-starrish.'' "I know, I already know,'' he said, shaking his head at the thought of all the hoopla. "It'll be crazy.'' ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson 

It's also noteworthy because Johnson's not a talker. He doesn't make bold pronouncements just to hear himself speak, to get a charge out of his teammates or to create a media buzz. So for him to claim the Nets can challenge in the East should not be dismissed as the senseless rantings of a blabbermouth. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it,'' he said. "We got the pieces necessary to do it. We got a great center [Brook Lopez], one of the best point guards in the game [Deron Williams], Gerald [Wallace] at the 3, some hardworking 4s. We got the guys you hate to play against but you love them on your team. So I think it's going to be a pretty surprising season, honestly.'' ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson 

The Nets wore their new uniforms and also came with new expectations for a franchise that has been among the worst in the NBA in recent years. After spending the last few seasons at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the new-look Nets are expecting to be a factor deep into the spring this season. “I think we’ve got everything that you could possibly want on a championship-caliber team,” new shooting guard Joe Johnson said during his press conference at the team’s season-opening media day. “Now we just have to put it together, come together as one and make it happen. “I think the sky’s the limit for us, honestly. I’m excited.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

“I’ve been waiting for this kind of pressure for two years, where there’s pressure on us to win,” Johnson said. “Expectations are a lot higher. This is what we want ... this is what we sign up for. Where we really get criticized when we don’t win, and when we win, the players really get celebrated. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Stefan Bondy: Joe Johnson says Nets can beat the Heat and Lakers and win a title THIS year. Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson insists ... he's no jewel thief -- and now, he's lashing back against a lawsuit that says he stole $125,000 worth of bling from an Atlanta diamond dealer. Aydin & Company filed a lawsuit against Johnson earlier this month, claiming the NBA star entered into a purchase agreement back in October 2010 for $125,500 worth of jewelry. The items in question -- a white gold watch with diamonds, diamond beaded bracelet, black diamond stud earrings and a white gold bezel set rosary. TMZ.com

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

Nets point guard Deron Williams said it in July when the Williams-Joe Johnson backcourt combo became official. Nets general manager Billy King reiterated it as NBA training camps start opening. "I think we have the best backcourt in the NBA," he said. "That's no disrespect to Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. I just think where these guys (Williams, Johnson) are in their careers, they are. What I really like is that they're both very physical offensively and defensively. They'll be the most physical backcourt in the league." USA Today

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Billy King, Training Camp 

Stefan Bondy: Billy King said Joe Johnson was never in the equation until Danny Ferry became GM. Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson, Billy King 

Williams is renting in SoHo while shopping for a permanent home, preferably one with easy tunnel access. He will have company. Joe Johnson, the Nets’ newly acquired All-Star guard, forward Kris Humphries and guard Jerry Stackhouse will all be living in Manhattan as well. Seven Nets will reside in New Jersey, including the rookie Tyshawn Thomas, who got an apartment in Hoboken, his hometown. (Two others, Mirza Teletovic and Tornike Shengelia, are playing overseas and have not yet shopped for homes, but they are likely to end up in New Jersey, too.) New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Kris Humphries, Jerry Stackhouse, Mirza Teletovic, New Jersey, Tornike Shengelia 

Joe Johnson is the latest Net to visit Barclays Center as it nears completion. Inspectors from the city Buildings Department will make a final walk-through on Tuesday and then, if all goes well, the arena will get a temporary certificate of occupancy on Wednesday. At that point, the Nets will take control, giving them the first home of their own.. Johnson did much of what his teammates have done in the past several months: meet and take pictures with construction workers and fans; get a panoramic view of the arena; and of course, pose. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson 

How did you first learn you had been traded? Had you heard inklings of a possible deal earlier? Joe Johnson: My agent told me about four or five days before the trade that there was a rumor going around. He doubted it would happen, but he wanted me to know the rumor was out there. So the day of the trade, probably like 11 a.m., our old GM, Rick Sund, and our GM, Danny Ferry — they were telling me that the rumors were true, and that if anything goes down, it was probably going to go down by 4 p.m. that day. I was like, “Cool. It is what it is.” SI.com

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Joe Johnson