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NBA Trade Rumors: Nets In 'Serious' Talks For Joe Johnson

After giving $40 million to a declining 30-year old forward whose game depends on athleticism, the Nets front office continues their quest to blow through their salary cap room as fast as they possibly can.

The team is reportedly continuing an aggressive pursuit of Atlanta Hawks SG Joe Johnson, an All-Star caliber player whose contract is so outrageous that his team is trying to give him away.

According to a report from ESPN.com, one possible deal involved the Nets sending all of their expiring contracts (Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow and DeShawn Stevenson) to the Hawks for the rights to Johnson.

Brooklyn is apparently comfortable with this deal, but they are trying to fill up some of the salary they're sending to Atlanta with a sign-and-traded player like Gerald Green in order to use their mid-level exception.

More importantly, they'll only do the deal if Deron Williams agrees to stay with the team, although there''s little reason to think Williams would be interested in a "Big Three" of him, Johnson and Wallace.

If this is the Nets best plan, Dallas may still have a shot at signing him.

For all the latest news and notes on the Mavericks free agency plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas story-stream as well as Mavs Moneyball.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.