DECEMBER 15: The Pacers have officially signed Johnson, the team announced today in a press release.
DECEMBER 14: The Pacers are signing free agent forward James Johnson to a one-year contract, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), the Pacers had an open roster spot after reaching a buyout agreement last month with Daniel Theis, so no corresponding move will be necessary to add Johnson.
Johnson, 36, has played for 10 different teams and is now in his 15th NBA season. He spent the 2022/23 campaign with Indiana, appearing in 18 games while averaging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per contest. Johnson was waived in February as part of the Kevin Durant blockbuster trade (due to a roster crunch), but the Pacers re-signed him a few days later.
The timing of the move is interesting and perhaps not a coincidence. The Pacers and Bucks had a postgame altercation over the game ball on Wednesday night after a chippy contest between the two Central Division teams. Johnson is known for being one of the toughest players in the league, and head coach Rick Carlisle praised his veteran leadership last season.
“Very important for us,” Carlisle said. “… He’s contributed so much to our situation just in terms of setting examples, mentoring, being very positive, being very truthful. He has a really strong reputation in this league as a great competitors, as a very tough guy. Those kinds of things. He’s been a difference maker so it’s great to have him back on board.”
Indiana’s roster will be full once the move is official.
They needed an enforcer!
Exactly what I was thinking. One day after a “Fracas” they sign James Johnson.
looked more like a kerfuffle!
Take out Bobby and the Greek Freak. Veterans are important though
Nothing groundbreaking but the Pacers need this
HUGE!!!
Bloodsport is in the building.
“On second thought, it actually DOES feel like the game ball.” -Giannis
There’s a reason we’ve never seen Draymond cheap shot this guy
Useful for leadership yes, but what the Pacers need on the floor is a 18mins a game big body that doesn’t foul. For years they have been abused by the likes of AD and every level of Center below him.
After NBA cup it’s clearly the C position that the Pacers have to improve … But there is not so much player to trade for
Overheard in February:
“For some reason, he keeps getting traded to whoever is playing Golden State next…”
Lol when do they play Golden State? Not that Draymond would try anything since JJ would end him.
Haha, Haliburton crying so they got him some protection, haha
Will he even play a single minute?
Let’s hope not, otherwise Indy is in a lot of trouble, right?