SH Blog: Joe Johnson to Nets, Marvin Williams traded for Devin Harris (in principle)

The time is near for a decision to come out of the biggest free agent prize this off-season in Deron Williams. The Brooklyn Nets have done all they can to keep the gifted point guard, and there have been reports that Williams and his family have truly enjoyed their stay in New York. Find out what big trade the team has all but secured today – with or without Williams – along with plenty of other free agency news.

With so much news coming from twitter, we’ll try a different format today. Feel free to chime in on your thoughts:

• The Nets are on the verge of completing a deal with the Hawks. Adrian Wojnarowski (who else?) has the details: “The Brooklyn Nets are finalizing a trade to acquire Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The trade will send guards Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and DeShawn Stevenson and forwards Jordan Williams and Johan Petro to the Hawks, along with a 2013 first-round pick the Nets acquired from the Houston Rockets. Stevenson is a free agent, so he will go to the Hawks in a sign-and-trade deal.”

• Update: The Nets and Hawks have agreed in principle to complete the Joe Johnson trade, league sources tell Y! Sports.

• The deal was first reported to be contingent on the decision of Deron Williams, but that notion has changed:

• By doing this deal, the Nets will lose their opportunity to acquire Howard:

• Some may wonder why the Nets gave up on Howard. Here is why:

• The Magic are not close to trading Howard yet, although he has been made available:

• Here is an example of why trading Howard will not be simple:

• Check out why Chris Sheridan believes a trio of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Dwight Howard is not out of the question: “The goal is to have a Big Three of Deron Williams, Dwight Howard and Johnson, and it remains doable if the Magic are willing to play ball. Orlando would have to accept a package of Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks and multiple future first-round draft picks, and the Howard deal would take the form of a massive sign-and-trade.”

• The Hawks, by the way, gain great amount of cap space by completing the deal with the Nets:

• Howard vehemently denied reports that he used the word “blackmail” to describe the Magic, from Woj: “Howard also denied an ESPN report that he had told people Orlando Magic officials had “blackmailed” him into forgoing the early termination option on his contract that ultimately cost him his free agency this summer. “I never used the word blackmail in reference to any of my dealings with the Magic,” Howard said. “I never said that. It’s defamatory and it’s inaccurate. I know what blackmail means and any report that I used the term incorrectly is inaccurate.”

• The Hawks’ retooling phase appears to be well on its way, according to Marc Stein:

• Jeremy Lin is no longer a lock to stay a Knick, according to Chris Broussard: “It has been a foregone conclusion for months that Jeremy Lin will re-sign with the New York Knicks, but sources close to the situation say the return of the free agent point guard is not as certain as it once seemed. While both Lin and the Knicks are hoping for a reunion, sources say that if any clubs offer Lin, a restricted free agent, a backloaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks could be given pause about matching the offer.” With the new collective bargaining agreement employing a more punitive luxury tax, beginning in the 2013-14 season, the Knicks are extremely concerned about the financial ramifications of such a deal.

• Goran Dragic has garnered strong interest from a multiple number of teams, from Sam Amick: “A source close to free-agent point guard Goran Dragic said the Raptors, Suns, Nets, Hornets, Lakers and Rockets have all expressed interest. The Rockets, for whom Dragic shined in the second half of last season, are said to be coming on the strongest. But Dragic, according to the source, has a serious interest in being part of a winning team and will consider that factor as much as the money. The source made it clear, however, that Dragic expects to be a starter for whichever team he joins.”

• The Celtics are considering Ray Allen as a number one priorityat this point, from Mark Murphy: “Danny Ainge says he’s serious about bringing Ray Allen back for a sixth season with the Celtics, and put his cell phone where his heart was at midnight yesterday, at the moment the guard’s contract expired. “We want Ray back, and we’re approaching this as the first thing we have to get done,” Ainge said yesterday morning. “It’s our No. 1 priority.”

• Jeff Green will look to get paid by plenty, despite missing all of last season due to a heart condition. More from Murphy: “One league source said agent David Falk’s starting point for next season is $9 million — the figure Green agreed to for the first year of a four-year deal with the Celtics last December, before the contract was voided by his physical. But Falk has been getting a lot of face time with Celtics management. He represents Jared Sullinger, and will be on hand for the rookie’s press conference today. He also represents Austin Rivers, and was at the family table Thursday night at draft headquarters.

• With the possibility of losing Roy Hibbert to free agency, the Pacers have started to search for alternatives at center. Here is one:

• The Pacers have also agreed to George Hill to a long term contract:

• The 38-year-old Marcus Camby has garnered plenty of attention, and has narrowed down his choices, from Chris Haynes: “The unrestricted free-agent center, Marcus Camby, has narrowed his choices to the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets, a league source told CSNNW.com.”

• Though we have yet to fully understand the Rockets end game, we know they like Omer Asik. A lot: “The Houston Rockets have reached agreement on a three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet with Chicago Bulls free-agent center Omer Asik, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Asik will sign the offer sheet on July 11 and the Bulls will have three days to match or lose him to the Rockets. This is a steep price for Chicago to pay for its backup center, and the Rockets knew it. All three years on the contract are fully guaranteed, a source said.”

• Here are some news about Jrue Holiday you may find intriguing:

• Lavoy Allen will get a two-year contract from the Sixers, from Woj: “The Philadelphia 76ers have reached an agreement in principle with center Lavoy Allen on a two-year, $6 million contract, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Allen, the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, was one of the surprise performers in the rookie class, contributing toughness and defense to the Sixers’ impressive postseason run. Allen started 15 games and played solidly at times in the absence of starter Spencer Hawes.

• The Bulls are reportedly interested in Brandon Roy:

• Widely thought to dislike coming off the bench, Andre Miller surprisingly decided to stay with the Denver, from Benjamin Hochman: “Nuggets sharpshooters (and fans) can rejoice. Assist machine Andre Miller has agreed to re-sign with the Nuggets, two sources said Sunday night. The 36-year-old point guard is arguably coach George Karl’s favorite player because of Miller’s ability to make the proper pass and fuel the offense. The sources confirmed that Miller will sign for three years. Financial terms were undisclosed.”

• Jason Terry is generating plenty of interest:

• Anthony Davis suffered a severe ankle sprain and will likely miss the Olympics, according to Woj: “Davis, 19, had been invited with several players to work out for Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a July training camp in Las Vegas, but the injury has likely left the Hornets – and Davis – not wanting to risk the young star’s participation, sources said.”