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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
In the '16-'17 season, Johnson was one of the most improved players in the league. He went from a lower-end bench player on the Raptors to an on-ball playmaker for a Heat team that finished the season on a 30-11 run after starting the season 11-30. He turned that into a 4-year, $60 million contract that summer, but was never able to replicate his performance.
Johnson has shown flashes that he can still contribute, but it hasn't been consistent enough that I would trust him as a rotational piece anymore. He has decent enough touch from midrange and outside, but his low three-point percentage this season has been concerning, even conceding the fact that it's on low volume. He's a bit slow-footed on the perimeter defensively trying to stay in front of wings. He can operate as a small-ball center, but doesn't provide any rim protection. As the screener in pick-and-roll, he's certainly not a lob threat and realistically is someone that would be popping every time. If Johnson can hit enough shots, he could fill a Mo Speights-esque roll on a good team.
Cap Considerations
Johnson will be an unrestricted free agent with full Bird rights. As his cap hold ($24.1 million) exceeds the salary he will get in free agency, his cap hold is not really relevant. If the Pelicans re-sign Johnson, his cap hold will be replaced by his starting salary, and the Pelicans may still have some cap space available depending on his salary and what happens with their other free agents.
Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Johnson as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE or Bi-Annual Exception to sign him. There's also a chance that Johnson ends up settling for the minimum.
Potential Teams: Pelicans, Pacers, Hawks, Jazz, Celtics
Predicted Contract: 1-year, $2.4 million ($1.7 million cap hit) with the Pelicans
Actual Contract: 1-year, $2.4 million ($1.7 million cap hit) with the Nets
Johnson predictably signed a one-year minimum contract, and could give the Nets another small-ball big option to replace Jeff Green.
Last updated: 8/18/2021
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