About a week ago (apologies if you read that in Bobby Shmurda’s voice), a report came out that the Brooklyn Nets were exploring their options are were willing to trade Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez. Well, according to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, the Nets only want to trade one of the three players – two at the most.

The question now is not who to trade, but who can you trade. The Nets have by far the most committed money for this season at $94,513,797, and the contracts of some of the players are too much for a team to take on, even if there’s only a year left.

Brook Lopez

By far the best contract of the 3, Brook is an extremely talented big man who has unlimited potential on the offensive end. His post game is among the best in the league and he’s only 26 years old. And has history has shown us, it’s possible for big men to peak in their early 30’s.

Unfortunately, as talented as he is offensively, he’s the exact opposite on the defensive end. He’s very slow-moving on his feet, and isn’t necessarily a great shot blocker. Although his rebounding, another area of concern, is slowly improving and getting back to where it was in his first 2 seasons.

Lopez’s contract is very manageable as he’s due $15,719,063 this season and $16,744,219 next season ( next season is a player option). Although early season injuries have limited his play, he’s still been effective so far into the season, and if he can somehow manage to stay healthy, there will certainly be teams inquiring about him, and maybe even attempting to trade for him.

Deron Williams

Deron Williams decline has been tough to watch. Once considered along with Chris Paul to be arguably the best point guard in the game, he’s now a complete shell of himself. The sad part about the decline is we don’t know what triggered it. Could it have been injuries? Age? Does it prove that he indeed was the benefit of Jerry Sloan’s pick-and-roll offense, therefore just a good system player? His decline has hurt us all, but nowhere near how much his 5-year, $98 million deal is hurting the Nets pockets.

He’s due $19,754,465 this season, $21,042,800 next season and $22,331,135 in 2016-2017. The good news for the Nets: the final year of his contract is an early termination option, so he can opt out of his contract and become a free agent a year early. The bad news for the Nets: there’s no way he opts out.

Just ask Peter Bursuker:

Although he only has 2 seasons left on his contract after this season, it’s way too much money to take on. But maybe you could convince me to take the contract. That is, if you held a shotgun to my neck.

Joe Johnson

If Deron Williams’ contract was Tony Montana, then Joe Johnson’s contract is Alejandro Sosa.

Tony Montana was notorious and extremely dangerous. He had goons all over the place and (almost) nobody wanted to mess with him.

Nobody wanted a piece of Alejandro Sosa. He was the Don Dada, the big cheese. He was unapproachable and you tried to avoid him at all costs.

Joe Johnson is notorious for being a isolation-heavy two guard who does nothing else. Yet he’s paid like a top 10 player who you can build a championship team around as it’s focal point. You can thanks the Atlanta Hawks for completely panicking and giving him a six-year, $119 million dollar contract during 2010 free agency.

He will make $23,180,790 this season and $24,894,863 the following season.

If I’m Billy King (thank god I’m not), I wouldn’t even attempt to sell the the prospect of receiving Joe Johnson at 33 for an insane amount of money. Don’t cause yourself the humiliation Billy. Just let Joe’s contract end, and when it’s up, put forth a restraining order against Johnson, banning him to be 1 mile within Barclays Center from all directions.

BREAKING NEWS: REAL FAKE LEAKED E-MAIL EXCHANGE BETWEEN DANNY FERRY AND BILLY KING FROM 2012

Danny: HAHAHAHAHAHA I can’t believe you took Joe’s contract. What the hell were you thinking??

Billy: We’re trying to put forth a winning culture here. Now that we’re in Brooklyn, we’re looking towards the future.

Danny: What future? You just took the contract of an overrated scorer who makes god knows how much money.

Billy: Listen Danny, it wasn’t that bad of a contract……

Danny: Stop trolling Billy. You, me, everybody and their mom knows you guys messed up. It’s OK. People mess up. Just own up to it.

Billy: We have the best backcourt in the league AND we have Jay Z and Beyonce sitting courtside at our games.

Danny: You really are delusional Billy boy. God bless you, I hope Prokhorov fires your ass.

2 WEEKS LATER

Danny: Hey Billy, you there? I just wanted to apologize for what I said 2 weeks ago. I was just busting your balls, I didn’t want you to get offended.

Danny: Hello….

Go Brooklyn!!!

All salary statistics are courtesy of basketball-reference.com