Four years and nearly $93 million later, Joe Johnson’s tenure with the Nets has finally reached its bittersweet end. Now, many a contender is tripping over their own feet for a shot at Iso Joe’s talents, including the reigning Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to a report by Marc Stein of ESPN, the Cavs have “strong confidence” that they will be able to land Johnson, who was officially waived by Brooklyn on Thursday.
ESPN sources say there is strong confidence within the Cavs' organization that they are in prime position to win the Joe Johnson Sweepstakes
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 25, 2016
Johnson, 34, holds averages of 11.8 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game this season. He’s also still putting up quality numbers from distance, connecting at a 37.1 percent clip on three-point shots.
Cleveland currently has two open roster spots, but it’s difficult to see the fit of the seven-time All-Star on that team as presently constructed. The last thing the Cavs would seem to need right now is another high-usage isolation scorer commanding the ball on the perimeter. While Johnson’s ability to play multiple positions will certainly help on a team that has always placed a premium on lineup flexibility, it’s clear that he wouldn’t be much more than a role player in Cleveland. For a guy who needs more than just role player touches to be effective, it just doesn’t seem like the best match.
The Cavs will not be without competition for Johnson either, as Stein also reports that several contenders, including Johnson’s former team, the Atlanta Hawks, will be in the bidding as well.
But it must also be noted that the Hawks, sources say, plan to make a determined push to try to convince Joe Johnson to return to Atlanta.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 25, 2016
Sources tell ESPN several playoff teams (Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, Miami, OKC and Toronto) are already in pursuit of Joe Johnson
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 25, 2016
Johnson could still help a number of contending NBA teams, but is Cleveland the team he would be able to help the most? Even if we’ve already seen previous linkage between the two sides, it remains doubtful.
