NBA Rumors: Nets Find Carmelo Anthony Alternative? Assessing Forward

The Brooklyn Nets are not done making additions to their roster ahead of training camp and are continuing to assess veteran players in free agency. They are considered among the contenders in the Eastern Conference after signing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the summer despite the latter likely to miss the entire 2019-20 campaign.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Nets will hold an individual workout for former forward Joe Johnson this week. He is also expected to hold workouts for two other Eastern Conference teams – Detroit Pistons and last seasons’ conference finalists Milwaukee Bucks.

Johnson is just coming off his Big 3 championship win with the Triplets while also claiming the MVP accolade. He has previously spent almost four seasons with the Nets where he earned one of his seven All-Star selections while leading them to the playoffs in three seasons.

The 38-year-old admitted recently that he was happy in the Big 3 and did not join the league to make a comeback in the NBA. However, he revealed that he wants to put right his final season with the Houston Rockets in 2018, which did not end as expected with the forward averaging just 6.0 points on 38.1 percent shooting in 23 games.

“I am hopeful to get back, but I did not get in the BIG3 to get back to the league," Johnson told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears, as quoted on ESPN. "I had a great career. I enjoyed the process. The only thing that keeps the NBA fire in the belly is how it ended in Houston. That just does not sit well with me. So if an opportunity comes along and I feel that it is worth it, yeah, I take that chance."

The Nets will be without forward Wilson Chandler for 25 games after he was handed a suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-Drug program. He was expected to make a key contribution this upcoming campaign, especially in the absence of Durant, who is out long-term with a ruptured ankle.

The Brooklyn franchise can replace Chandler once he misses five games and are assessing their options. Carmelo Anthony has been linked with a move to the Nets with reports suggesting that Irving and Durant are pushing the franchise to bring the veteran 10-time All-Star, who has also claimed that he is ready and open to joining the Nets.