Facing a potential issue at forward, the Nets have been linked to possibly bringing Joe Johnson or Carmelo Anthony back to the New York.
Johnson is reportedly getting closer to a deal with the Pistons, while yet another Net has been subtly stumping for Anthony.
Johnson’s clutch shot-making earned him the moniker “Joe Jesus” during his time in Brooklyn, because as then-Nets teammate Kevin Garnett said, “He might not be there when you call on him, but he’s there when you need him.” But there may not be a second coming in Brooklyn.
Johnson said he expected to work out for the Nets this week, but sources told The Post he hasn’t done so yet. ESPN reported Johnson was slated to work out for the Pistons on Tuesday, and The Athletic’s Frank Isola said on SiriusXMNBA, “From what I’m hearing, Detroit is the favorite to land Joe Johnson.”
With injured Kevin Durant expected to miss most, if not all, of the season, Wilson Chandler suspended for 25 games for PEDs and Rodions Kurucs facing a possible suspension after being charged in an alleged domestic assault, the Nets have dire needs at forward. That makes Anthony more of a position fit.
Sources had told the Post that several veterans were lobbying the front office on Anthony’s behalf. The Athletic reported that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were among them and that GM Sean Marks had taken a look at the former Knicks star recently.
Anthony spent time in Los Angeles this summer working out with a number of Nets – half the roster was there – and newcomer Taurean Prince shared a video of Anthony playing pickup and offered up some unsolicited praise of the 35-year-old likely future Hall of Famer.
“Guarded him for a month straight. Same Melo only thing diff is the narrative ppl throw on his name,” Prince tweeted in response to the video of Anthony going by Danny Green, along with emojis indicating his confusion as to why the narrative exists and Anthony is unemployed.
Anthony, out of work since being cut lose by the Rockets last season, might be wondering the same thing.
A month ago, a source close to Anthony told The Post of the LA workouts: “Nothing to it. There’s several guys attending that aren’t Nets, but friends and other NBA players. Pickup games in LA.”
But with the Nets’ frontcourt shorthanded, could they become more?
Durant and Irving – who, along with Brooklyn’s DeAndre Jordan, won 2016 Rio Olympic gold alongside Anthony – would back that move. Now it seems Prince has added his name to that list.