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Billy King on Joe Johnson's health, Andray Blatche, C.J. Watson and Bojan Bogdanovic

Jeff Zelevansky

After announcing he wasn't going to renew P.J. Carlesimo's contract, Billy King spoke about the off-season beyond the coaching search offering his thoughts on Joe Johnson's health, retaining Andray Blatche, C.J. Watson and bringing Bojan Bogdanovic to the NBA.

Mike Mazzeo provides the highlights, led by King's revelation that Johnson wouldn't have played in Games 1 and 2 vs. Miami because of increasing pain due to plantar fasciitis.

"It was getting to the point where we were getting diminishing returns," King said. "He's not one to make excuses for himself, but we knew -- I found out this morning that if we had gotten through that, he wouldn't have played Monday or Wednesday."

King said Johnson will not need surgery. Earlier, Deron Williams said he won't require surgery either on his ankles.

Although Blatche joked to Nets employees that they had better be nice to him, King said he expected the 6'11" 26-year-old would be back. "We have what we have. He's not going to make more money. Hopefully he likes the situation and wants to be here," King said. In a more serious moment, Blatche said he hopes to be back with the Nets.

The Watson situation is more difficult to project. He makes $955,000 this season and has a player option, but only for $1.1 million. Watson also switched agents. He like D-Will, Mirza Teletovic, Tyshawn Taylor, Jerry Stackhouse and Euro-Stash Ilkan Karaman is now repped by Jeff Schwartz. King said he would talk to Schwartz soon.

King likes his chances of bringing over the 6'8" Bogdanovic although the Croatian has said he's uncertain. "His contract is up. We've had the discussion about him coming over," King said.

The Nets have an advantage for the first time this summer: the proven lure of Brooklyn. "So it's not just about making trades, maybe it's adding some guys -- because the great thing is that we're in Brooklyn. We're an attractive market."