The Nets have been the big winners of the NBA offseason to this point, acquiring all-star guard Joe Johnson in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks and re-signing Deron Williams - the most sought-after free agent of the summer - to a long-term deal.
General manager Billy King also re-signed free agent forward Gerald Wallace, acquired rebounding specialist Reggie Evans from the Clippers via a sign-and-trade, and signed forward Mirza Teletovic - one of the top players in Europe - to a mid-level exception deal.
The Nets hope to complete their roster overhaul by adding Dwight Howard to the mix. Brooklyn is Howard's preferred destination, but it's hard to say whether or not the Nets have the pieces to complete a deal. King is reportedly offering a package that would include center Brook Lopez, forward Kris Humphries, promising second-year guard Marshon Brooks and three first-round picks. But Orlando already has Glen Davis and Ryan Anderson at the power forward spot and may not have much interest in Humphries. The Nets may need to get a third team involved to make this work.
Meanwhile, several other teams - including the Hawks, Lakers, Bulls and Rockets - are rumored to be preparing counter-offers for Howard.
King's moves should make the Nets a playoff contender in their first year in Brooklyn, but they carry a considerable risk. According to several reports, Teletovic's deal is for the full mid-level exception and not the mini mid-level. That could mean that Brooklyn's payroll will have a hard cap at $74 million this season, which would give the Nets very little wiggle room to replace an injured player or make a mid-season deal for extra help.
- Brooklyn Nets re-sign Deron Williams, but still need Dwight Howard to make run at NBA championship - NY Daily News.
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