Report: Joe Johnson knows he's being shopped, Pistons downplay activity

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Joe Johnson doesn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. He just needs an attentive agent. Or the internet.

Johnson wasn't shy Wednesday talking about his name being in the rumor mill once again, openly admitting that the Brooklyn Nets are looking to trade him.

"Yeah, well, the rumors are true," Johnson said. "My name is out there. So anything's possible. So my phone is definitely going to be on."

The Nets have been trying to move one or more of Johnson, Brook Lopez or Deron Williams in an attempt to break up a flawed core and clear the books some moving forward, but they've been unable to so far. Johnson was considered perhaps the least likely to move since he earns $23.2 million this season and is owed $24.9 million next year, but he's also playing the best of the three and has malleable enough talents to fit into just about any rotation.

The Detroit Pistons are believed to be interested in the seven-time All-Star, but Johnson's salary makes the salary cap math in any deal hard. A reported package of Brandon Jennings, Jonas Jerebko and Caron Butler still comes up short in terms of matching salary and could require a third team to make a deal work.

For his part, Pistons president and head coach Stan Van Gundy downplayed the likelihood that his team makes any moves.

"There's nothing imminent," he said Wednesday. "There's nothing we're really working on trying to zero in on. We've basically said no to everything or other people have said no so we're not really along the spectrum unless things have changed in the last two hours, which I doubt."

Johnson would stand as a big enough upgrade to make the Pistons a favorite to land one of the final two playoff spots in the East, but he'd restrict their cap flexibility for this summer, when it's believed they'll chase hometown restricted free agent Draymond Green. Whether surrendering Jennings, other assets and flexibility is worthwhile for a playoff berth will be clear by 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Johnson is averaging 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 50 games while slogging through multiple minor injuries.