According to the New York Post, Brooklyn could save close to $60 million in luxury tax payout, if they can move Joe Johnson.
The reasoning behind such a deal would be simple: It would save the Nets gobs of money. By trading Johnson — who averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season — for Haywood, who they could cut without paying him, and Varejao, set to make $9.6 million next season, the Nets would save more than $15 million in payroll. And depending on where the salary-cap and luxury-tax lines are set this week, the Nets could save somewhere between $35 million and $50 million in luxury taxes, giving them a total cost savings of roughly $50 million to $60 million.
Varejao would give the Nets the backup center they don’t have, but would also cut into their cap space for next summer. The Nets would immediately part ways with Brendan Haywood, too.
By Glenn Erby
