Avery Johnson is asked often about Carmelo Anthony, who has been linked to the Nets in recent months.

Johnson hinted on Friday afternoon before New Jersey lost to Chicago that many rumors involving the trade are false.

"That's kind of what you sign up for. You're always going to have rumors about something, especially with this new social media. A long time ago there was no e-mail, Twitter, texting – so, again, all the different media publications and outlets that have emerged over the years, there's always going to be some rumors, even if they're not accurate. We all know that's why we have so many radio talk shows and all these different outlets are involved in sports.
 
"So whether they're accurate or not, you're always going to have rumors. Meanwhile, the main thing is a lot of our young guys that we're trying to develop that are supposedly in these trade rumors, we got to just make sure we keep developing those guys."

Johnson was referring to rookie forward Derrick Favors.