Nets Still Working On JJ Trade

Marc Stein and Chad Ford update their report on the Nets pursuit of Joe Johnson early Monday with news that the deal remains stuck on the issue of whether MarShon Brooks should be dispatched to Atlanta. However, it now appears that the Hawks are willing to accept a signed-and-traded DeShawn Stevenson, rather than Gerald Green, in the package.

Similarly, Marc J. Spears tweets, "Nets still trying to get trade done for Hawks guard Joe Johnson and hoping to get resolved by mid-week, sources tell Yahoo! Sports."

Stein and Ford write that the two sides are trying to "tweak" the proposal to help the Nets' financial flexibility. Still, the major sticking point remains the Nets' reluctance to include Brooks in the deal. A New Jersey native, Brooks grew up in Atlanta.

According to the report, "One big stumbling block, sources said, is Atlanta's insistence that Brooklyn include promising Nets guard MarShon Brooks in the trade to ensure that, in addition to shedding Johnson's hefty contract, it gets back at least one on-the-rise player." The most recent proposal would call for the Nets to send Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow and Jordan Williams along with the signed-and-traded Stevenson and a future first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Johnson. The Nets are also unwilling to sign off on the deal till Deron Williams re-signs.

The two ESPN writers quoted a source as saying, "The Nets want Joe and they're one of the few teams that can take on his contract."

• Nets trying to get Joe Johnson - Marc Stein & Chad Ford - ESPN