Source: New Jersey Nets working to acquire Carmelo Anthony

Johnson was concerned that trade talks might be a distraction for the players.

"They understand that is part of the game," he said. "It's a part of the business. There may be some things said about coach this year that is really inaccurate. That is a part of what we deal with. When you sign you name on contracts to be an NBA player or coach that's kind of the unwritten rule, the fine print you don't see. Your name is going to come up and something is going to be said. You have to deal with it."

Johnson refused to speculate on how many games the new-look Nets would win after winning only 12 last season.

"We're not making any promises except to say we're going to play hard and we'll see what happens on nights when our talent level is not as high as other teams."

New owner Mikhail Prokhorov has said the Nets will challenge for a playoff berth this season.

Johnson noted that statement was made before the free-agency period.

"You have to look at the context of when the statement was made," Johnson said. "Mikhail and I are on the same page. This is not going to blow up in smoke if that doesn't happen the first year."