D-Will, Lopez and Joe Johnson on the trade block??

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Seven: In the first quarter, Joe Johnson practiced what he preached after calling out the team’s “selfish” play, but in the fourth quarter, hero ball took over. With less than 6 minutes left, Joe Johnson devolved into Iso-Joe scoring only four points on seven isolation possessions. Around the two-minute mark, Johnson all but sealed the Nets’ fate with a particularly ugly turnover – attacking the teeth of the Suns defense while ignoring a wide-open Mirza Teletovic in the corner.

ESPN’s Marc Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk report that The Nets have begun exploring trade possibilities for its core of Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson.

No trade is imminent, but sources insist that The Nets remain in a “win-now mentality” and the front office isn’t seeking a trade “to dump salary.” Brooklyn’s desire, according to sources, is to bring back sufficient pieces to retool and “remain a playoff team.”

The authors added:

The reality, of course, is that trading Williams, Lopez or Johnson, let alone a combination of those three, is likely to be difficult.

As The Nets put the team’s high-paid core on the block, it should be noted that the Atlanta Hawks hold the right to swap picks with The Nets in the 2015’s draft, and the Boston Celtics hold the rights to the team’s 2016 and 2018 draft picks, as well as the right to swap picks in the 2017 draft – putting the reset button out of reach for The Nets squad.

USA Today’s Sam Amick added that The Nets have been looking hard for a defensive-minded wing.

Reaction to the news is below.

The tweet that set off the firestorm.

USA Today’s Sam Amick added:

Reaction from The Brooklyn Game’s Editor Devin Kharpertian:

Fan reaction: