The Brooklyn Nets are trying to save money. Relieving themselves of Joe Johnson's or Deron Williams' contract would be a start.
Brooklyn has paid well into the luxury tax in consecutive years, and for what? Forty-four victories and a second-round playoff exit two seasons ago followed by an even worse year in 2014-15.
Now, ownership is turning a bit more frugal. It's not cheap to try to avoid a repeater tax if you aren't fielding a championship-level team. It's only the intelligent thing to do.
Why throw away all that dough for a club that's coming off a 38-win season and could see a victory decrease for a third consecutive year in 2015-16?