Reports form Zach Lowe and Shams Charania indicate that Joe Johnson, recently waived by the Brooklyn Nets, will sign a contract with the Miami Heat once the waivers process is complete. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors were rumoured to be among the teams interested in signing the 34-year-old Johnson.
The Heat expect to sign Joe Johnson today or this weekend, sources say.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 26, 2016
Free agent Joe Johnson has committed to a deal with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 26, 2016
Johnson, a seven-time All-Star, averaged 11.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 57 games for the Brooklyn Nets this season. He will add a veteran presence to the Heat and is versatile enough to play shooting guard or small forward for the team.
Johnson adds some additional scoring to a team who is unsure when they will get star power forward Chris Bosh back, and is making a push towards the playoffs. Miami is also without guards Tyler Johnson and Beno Udrih who have been lost to season-ending injuries, making their need for a player like Johnson even greater.
Johnson has career averages of 17 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game while playing for the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft out of Arkansas.
Johnson was one of the NBA’s highest paid players, on the final year of a max contract he signed with Brooklyn.
