Brooklyn Nets Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Joe Johnson reflect on their reactions to the blockbuster trade agreed to on draft night that brought Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to the franchise.
Williams was in the “war room” at Barclays Center as the Nets made their decision to draft Mason Plumlee, communicating with Garnett and King. Lopez, naturally, was “playing video games or drawing or something.” Johnson told me earlier this month that he heard about the trade on HoopsHype, reiterated that he was with his family back in Arkansas.
Garnett, Pierce, and Terry also spoke about their reaction. Pierce said he had “an understanding” after the season that it was likely he’d be moved (which he had said publicly prior to the trade as well), while Garnett was a bit more shocked. Garnett did have a no-trade clause, which could have blocked the trade, but waived it to join the Nets. Terry said he got a text from Garnett that said simply, “we’re outta here.”
Though not featured in this video, I learned during training camp that Andray Blatche and Reggie Evans were in Jamaica at the time of the trade, helping the RuJohn foundation. When he heard originally he was in the trade, Evans didn’t have much of a reaction. “I was in Jamaica, so…” he trailed off with a laugh.
(Courtesy of YES Network)
