Another week, another Lance Stephenson trade rumor.
After the Nets recently pulled Brook Lopez off the table in three-way discussions to acquire Stephenson from the Hornets, the two teams are kicking around a potential deal that would involve Joe Johnson coming to Charlotte instead, according to Yahoo! Sports.
The players would be a part of a larger package that would also include guard Gerald Henderson and forward Marvin Williams going to New Jersey, the report said.
The prospects of acquiring Johnson reportedly intrigues Hornets owner Michael Jordan. And though he has been struggling while playing through tendinitis, Johnson, 33, is considered a roster upgrade for the Hornets, who look to take advantage of the Nets' fire sale.
Johnson is owed $48 million on his current contract that runs through the 2015-16 season. He is averaging 15 points per game this season.
The Hornets, Nets and Thunder engaged in trade talks earlier this month that would have sent Lopez to Oklahoma City and Stephenson to New Jersey. But the Nets pulled out, seeking a bigger package in return for Lopez.
In addition to Johnson and Lopez, the Nets, losers of eight of their last 10 games, have also been trying to trade injured star Deron Williams. They are still interested in trading Lopez and have attracted the Nuggets' interest, Yahoo also reported.