Joe Johnson Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Notes: Dragic, Conley, Johnson, Tax

March 1st, 2016 at 3:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Heat were feeling out the trade value of Goran Dragic before the deadline, a source told Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, and that jibes with an earlier report that the team was open to hearing offers for the point guard. Deveney also reiterates that Miami is unsurprisingly eyeing prime free agent Mike Conley. It’s all part of what appears to be a two-year plan that team president Pat Riley has in place to use his reputation as a recruiter and team builder and the natural appeal of Miami to restore the Heat to title contention, league sources told Deveney. See more from South Beach:

Joe Johnson wants to play the rest of his career with the Heat, and while he acknowledged it’s not certain whether he will, the 34-year-old said that’s Riley’s goal too, observes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “The most important thing Pat told me was that this wasn’t just a short-term deal, that he would like me to finish my career here,” Johnson said. “That’s what we’re working toward. I want to come out and help as much as possible.”
The Heat promised Johnson a starting role before he signed, The Herald’s Ethan Skolnick notes.
The Johnson has often spent time in Miami for offseason workouts and said he felt right at home when he signed, as Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel details. “I really didn’t know much about the Heat organization and how they worked. Things I’ve heard that they were very first class. Just in the past couple of days, I’ve seen a lot of things I haven’t seen in my 15-year career. So I’ve been impressed,” Johnson said.
Soon-to-be free agent Hassan Whiteside expressed some encouraging sentiments today about his future with Miami, as The Herald’s Manny Navarro relays (Twitter link). “I feel comfortable as long as I’ve got a Heat jersey on,” Whiteside said. “Coming off the bench, starting, I just love playing for this team.”
The Heat have about $41,600 to spend without going over the tax line after Monday’s controversial buyout with Beno Udrih, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reported and as we detailed in an earlier post about the market for reported Miami target Marcus Thornton. Miami would have more to spend if another team claims Udrih off waivers.

Southeast Rumors: Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Harris

February 29th, 2016 at 7:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hawks’ draft-night acquisition of shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Knicks is finally paying off, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. The Knicks received the rights to point guard Jerian Grant and appeared to get the upper hand in the deal during the first half of the season, as Hardaway languished on Atlanta’s bench. Hardaway appeared in just four of the Hawks’ first 35 games but now has a rotation spot as the backup shooting guard, including a 25-minute stint on Sunday. “I feel like he is starting to understand what we expect from him, what we need,” Atlanta center Al Horford told Vivlamore. “More than anything, defensively he is bringing it.” While Hardaway’s playing time is increasing, Grant has seen decreased minutes under Knicks interim coach Kurt Rambis, including three DNP’s in the past eight contests, Vivlamore adds.

In other news around the Southeast Division:

Joe Johnson wants to finish his career with the Heat, observes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com. The 34-year-old shooting guard signed with Miami after reaching a buyout agreement with the Nets and clearing waivers. Johnson, who scored 12 points in his Heat debut on Sunday, hopes it’s not a short-term arrangement, as he told Youngmisuk and other members of the media. “I think we’ve got a lot of veteran guys who know what it takes to win [and the possibility of remaining with the Heat] was another key thing for me,” he said. That’s certainly feasible from a salary-cap standpoint, as the Heat have only $48MM in guaranteed salary commitments next season.
The Tobias Harris trade could define the tenure of Magic GM Rob Hennigan, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel opines. Harris was traded to the Pistons for the expiring contract of point guard Brandon Jennings and power forward Ersan Ilyasova. With a partial guarantee on the final year of Ilyasova’s contract, the Magic could have $45MM to spend on free agents this summer, Schmitz continues. Harris’ growth had leveled off, in Schmitz’s view, but the trade only works out if Hennigan can land a top-level free agent.
Josh Richardson has been a revelation as the Heat’s new backup point guard, according to Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald. Thrust into the role because of injuries, Richardson has called upon the leadership qualities he showed in college at Tennessee, Skolnick adds. “It was tough at first, but now that I’ve kind of been forced into the backup point guard role, it’s a leadership role again,” Richardson told Skolnick. “So I get to kind of be me again, and talk and direct traffic.”

Southeast Notes: Beal, Morris, Johnson, Hardaway

February 28th, 2016 at 6:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards have been bringing Bradley Beal off the bench so he can be available for fourth quarters without exceeding his minutes restriction, writes J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic. The shooting guard, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, has only topped 30 minutes in a game once since the All-Star break. Beal’s minutes are based on a sliding scale that takes into account how much he played in prior games. The restriction was imposed after doctors discovered “the beginnings of a stress reaction in his lower right fibula” in December. “It’s an adjustment still,” Beal said. “It’s kind of difficult knowing sometimes you have to be more aggressive especially when my minutes aren’t as high. … I don’t know what it is. Each night it’s different.”

There’s more from the Southeast Division:

Markieff Morris has adjusted quickly to the Wizards after Phoenix sent him to Washington in a deadline-day trade, writes Keely Diven of CSN Mid-Atlantic. Morris has become an important contributor on both offense and defense, and today registered a plus-22 in a win over the Cavaliers. “I just bring intensity,” he said. “I’m the type of guy, you put me out there and I’ll do anything for the team, whether it’s rebound, play defense, score. I’m just trying to lead by example. And on that second unit, be the guy that you can put on the forward and to stop him, and I think I’m that guy.”
Joe Johnson decided to sign with the Heat because he was familiar with several of the players, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link). Johnson cited a connection with Dwyane Wade, Amar’e Stoudemire and others as his reason for picking Miami over Cleveland.
After a disastrous first half of the season, Tim Hardaway Jr. is starting to show the Hawks what he can do, writes Ray Glier for USA Today. A broken wrist during summer league continued to bother Hardaway as the season started. He was inactive for the opener and barely played during the first half of the season, which included two D-League trips. It wasn’t what Atlanta expected when it traded its first-round pick to New York to acquire him last summer. “We’re happy with the way Tim has responded,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He had an injury that was a little bit understated. … I think he has the athleticism where he can be a good two-way guy. He’s on his way.”

Heat Rumors: Copeland, Johnson, Green, Whiteside

February 28th, 2016 at 10:01am CST by Arthur Hill

After signing Joe Johnson on Saturday, the Heat still may need another move to challenge the top teams in the East, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Miami remains in need of shooters and has another roster spot open, although luxury tax concerns may prevent the Heat from signing anyone else. If they do decide to fill the opening, Winderman tabs Chris Copeland, who was waived this week by the Magic, as a possibility. Another is Kevin Martin if he gets bought out by the Wolves before Tuesday. The columnist also says Miami could use another point guard to protect against injury to Goran Dragic.

There’s more this morning from South Beach:

Saturday’s loss to the Celtics pointed out how much the Heat need a player like Johnson, Winderman writes in a separate story. Miami made just 1 of 13 shots from 3-point range while falling to a rival in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Dragic expects Johnson to make the Heat more dangerous from the perimeter. “He can shoot the ball,” Dragic said. “He can take it off the dribble, and he makes good passes. And of course, he’s a clutch guy. He can make shots at the end. To have that guy … it’s going to be awesome.”
Gerald Green is most likely to lose playing time because of the Johnson addition, writes Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. Green has been shut out in his last three games and is shooting just 39% from the field for the season. “My strength is scoring,” he said. “That’s always been my strength. When I’m not able to go on my strengths, I’ve gotta figure out other ways to be effective.” Green is on a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with the Heat and will be a free agent this summer.
Dwyane Wade is making a pitch for Miami to keep free agent Hassan Whiteside, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Wade had high praise for Whiteside after the center posted 13 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks in Saturday’s game. “Hopefully one day I can look back at a Hall of Fame career and say I was there for the beginning of it,” Wade said. “He has an immense amount of talent. Since the break, he’s been playing a dominant big man game and we love it.”

Heat Sign Joe Johnson

February 27th, 2016 at 5:55pm CST by Arthur Hill

5:55pm: The move is official, the team announced.

5:32pm: Joe Johnson, who reached a buyout agreement with the Nets on Thursday, will sign with Miami, tweets Heat managing general partner Micky Arison. Johnson cleared waivers this afternoon, and Arison’s tweet indicates that he will be available for Sunday night’s game with the Knicks.

On Friday, the Heat emerged as the favorite to sign Johnson after initial speculation that he might go to Cleveland. Miami has two open roster spots, so no move would be necessary to add Johnson. However, the signing will push the Heat back over the luxury tax line. Miami dipped below the line with moves at the trade deadline, but left itself unable to sign any player at any salary before March 6th without crossing the line again. The Heat will pay repeat-offender tax penalties of at least $2.50 for every dollar they’re over the tax line on the final day of the regular season.

Johnson averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 57 games with Brooklyn this season. The Heat will be his fifth franchise in a 15-year NBA career.

The move has the enthusiastic support of veteran guard Dwyane Wade, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. “To put somebody on the floor that can shoot the ball, can score in different areas of the floor and make plays, just adds to what we’re trying to do,” Wade said. “Joe is a friend of mine. I tried to do my best to paint the picture that this is a good place to be, and the decision from there is his. Make sure he sees my name in his in-box a lot. He made the decision what’s best for them… Open arms in Miami for him.”

Heat Rumors: Stokes, Johnson, Whiteside

February 27th, 2016 at 3:53pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jarnell Stokes, who was traded from Miami to New Orleans at the deadline and then waived by the Pelicans, has rejoined the Heat’s D-League affiliate, tweets Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor. Despite the trade, Sioux Falls retained the rights to Stokes under a D-League provision because he appeared in more than 10 games for the Skyforce this season. (Twitter link). The 6’9″ center/power forward has played five games for Miami, scoring 7 points in 14 minutes. Stokes is not eligible to rejoin the Heat this season, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel, as traded players cannot go back to the team that dealt them away.

There’s more news out of Miami:

Tyler Johnson, who hasn’t played since undergoing surgery on his left shoulder February 3rd, hopes to be back on the court by the end of the season, Winderman writes in the same story. The Heat haven’t set a timetable for the backup guard’s return, which was initially estimated at three months. However, Johnson is encouraged by how much he has recovered so far. “I feel like I’m progressing really well,” Johnson said. “I’m going to shoot to get back. Even if it was possible, it would probably be in April.”
Former Net Joe Johnson, who is rumored to be signing with Miami this weekend, is the best talent available in this year’s buyout market, according to Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. Johnson, who was waived by Brooklyn on Thursday after agreeing to a buyout, has been a durable player who was the focus of the offense with both the Nets and Hawks, Bontemps writes.
One way for free-agent-to-be Hassan Whiteside to increase his value is to improve his free-throw shooting, and Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post suggests he is doing that. The 7’0″ center recently changed his approach at the line and is hitting 67.9 percent over his last six games. He averages 53 percent for his career and 56.4 percent for the season. “You know that feeling when you get under the covers in the bed and you snuggle up? You know that comfortable feeling?” Whiteside said in explaining his improved performance. “I feel that. I feel comfortable.”

Central Notes: Van Gundy, Monroe, Johnson

February 27th, 2016 at 11:27am CST by Eddie Scarito

The Pistons are still thin in the frontcourt after the trade for Donatas Motiejunas was voided over medical concerns, but there currently aren’t any players available who fit what the team is seeking, Rod Beard of The Detroit News writes. “So far, nothing on any of the guys who have been bought out or waived,” coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said. “There hasn’t been anybody that we’ve seriously talked to.” While there are a number of guards who are available, the backcourt isn’t currently an area of need for the team, Beard notes. “Where our real need is right now obviously is up front. It’s hard to say [whether we’re interested in guards] because you’d have to weigh quality,” Van Gundy continued. “It depends. If you had a great wing option, that would outweigh certainly a mediocre big. Our need is more up front.”

Van Gundy also acknowledged that the team will be limited financially in its free agent pursuits and could be outbid for any potential targets, Beard adds. “Some teams have money; there are teams that are under the cap and have money to offer. It all depends on what certain guys are looking for,” Van Gundy noted. “If they’re looking for an additional payday, there’s places they can go to get it. If they’re looking to get to the best team, they can. They all have different goals in what they’re trying to do.”

Here’s more from the Central Division:

Greg Monroe says he still feels that he has the support of the Bucks‘ coaching staff despite being shifted to a reserve role and being mentioned in trade deadline rumors, Chris Mannix of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports writes. The big man also believes that the team can turn around its fortunes prior to the end of the season, Mannix adds. “Everyone has kind of given up on us, everyone except for us in this locker room,” Monroe said. “We can be a good team. We have balance. We have players on the floor who can make plays. With me and Michael Carter-Williams coming off the bench, we can score. We just need to keep the focus, keep fighting. We just need to keep trying to find ways to win.”
LeBron James confirmed the Cavs’ interest in Joe Johnson, who is expected to sign with the Heat when he clears waivers today, but added that he did not reach out to the veteran swingman to make a recruiting pitch, Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon notes. “He knows that we want him,” James said. “If he decides to come here, it’d be great. If not, then we’ll continue to move on with what we have. He’s a great piece for any team. If we’re lucky enough to get him, he would mean something to us. If not, we have enough here to compete.”

Heat To Sign Joe Johnson

February 26th, 2016 at 5:24pm CST by Chuck Myron

5:24pm: The Heat are expected to waive a player in the immediate future which will help them remain under the tax line after inking Johnson, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel relays (on Twitter).

1:47pm: The Heat expect they’ll sign Joe Johnson this weekend, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.com (Twitter links). He’s indeed headed to Miami, barring an unforeseen turn of events, as Ethan Skolnick of The Miami Herald confirms (on Twitter). The 15th-year veteran clears waivers Saturday. So, it appears Miami is poised to cross back into tax territory. The Heat would have to wait until March 6th to sign Johnson or anyone else to a minimum salary contract without putting themselves in line to pay repeat-offender tax penalties. Miami could work a buyout with another player to avert the tax or waive someone and hope another team claims him, though those scenarios rely on the cooperation of others. Failing any such tax escape hatch, a minimum-salary deal with Johnson would cost about $125K in taxes, $265K in salary and force the team to miss out on a $2.5MM windfall that would come from the league’s payout to non-tax teams, according to Bobby Marks of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv first identified the Heat as the front-runners for Johnson earlier today, a reversal from last week, when Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer heard Johnson would sign with the Cavs if he worked a buyout with the Nets. Johnson received that buyout Thursday, reportedly giving up about $3MM in exchange for his release. The 34-year-old also apparently had serious interest in the Hawks, but instead it looks like he’s on his way to Miami, reportedly feeling as though he’d see a more significant role there than with other teams. Johnson would prefer living in Miami over other places, too, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork heard (Twitter link). The Cavs reportedly turned into long shots for him, and Skolnick hears the Thunder and Hawks, not the Cavs, were the teams that most appealed to Johnson aside from the Heat (Twitter link).

Johnson will supplement a Heat roster decimated by injuries and cost-cutting moves that have left them with only 10 healthy players. Conflicting reports surround the matter of whether the Heat are pressuring Chris Bosh to sit out the rest of the season because of renewed blood-clot issues, while Tyler Johnson is out until at least April and Beno Udrih at least May. Heat team president Pat Riley cited the team’s dwindling point guard corps Thursday when he left the door open a crack to the idea of paying the tax, but Johnson is a wing player. He’s nonetheless the jewel of the buyout market even though his scoring average has declined for four straight years. The seven-time All-Star posted 11.8 points in 33.9 minutes per game across 57 appearances with Brooklyn this season. He’s shot 37.1% on his 3-pointers this season, matching the rate for his career, and that figures to help Miami, which is 28th in 3-pointers made.

The Heat have eyed Johnson for weeks, if not longer, as Skolnick reported earlier this month that the Heat would have interest if Johnson became available on the buyout market.

Heat Favorites For Joe Johnson, Cavs Long Shots

February 26th, 2016 at 1:40pm CST by Chuck Myron

1:40pm: The Heat expect they’ll sign Johnson this weekend, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.com (Twitter link). He clears waivers Saturday. So, it appears Miami is poised to cross back into tax territory.

1:25pm: Miami is “far and away the most likely” destination for Johnson, but he’s yet to make up his mind, a league source said to Zagoria (Twitter link).

12:02pm: The Cavaliers have become long shots for Johnson, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt hears (Twitter link).

FRIDAY, 11:56am: Miami has pulled into the lead for Johnson, reports Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link), as the longtime starter believes he’d see a more significant role with the Heat than with others, ESPN’s Chris Broussard says (Twitter link). Heat president Pat Riley expressed at least some level of openness Thursday to re-entering tax territory, though he spoke specifically about the team’s lack of point guards.

THURSDAY, 4:20pm: The Cavaliers are confident that they’re the favorites to land Joe Johnson now that he’s worked a buyout with the Nets, but the Hawks, in whom Johnson also reportedly holds interest, plan a concerted effort to lure him back to Atlanta, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (All Twitter links). The Heat are also among the teams he’s strongly considering, with the Celtics and Thunder close behind the trio of Cleveland, Atlanta and Miami, sources tell Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops (Twitter link). Johnson appears likely to wait a couple of days before making a decision, Stein adds. He’ll be on waivers until Saturday at 4:00pm Central time, at which point he’ll most assuredly become a free agent, since no team has the cap room or an exception large enough to claim his salary of almost $24.895MM. Johnson will give back approximately $3MM of that figure as part of the buyout deal once he clears waivers, Nets GM Sean Marks said today in an appearance on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York radio, notes Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link).

Johnson was reportedly planning to sign with the Cavs, but the Hawks have a financial edge, since Atlanta can offer a prorated portion of the room exception now worth about $2MM. Cleveland is limited to the prorated minimum salary, which would give Johnson approximately $400K. The cost of signing Johnson would nonetheless be greater to the Cavs than it would be to the Hawks because of Cleveland’s position as a luxury tax team. The 15th-year veteran would represent an investment of between $1.2MM and $1.3MM in combined salary and taxes for the Cavs.

Miami is in a tough position, since the Heat would slip over the tax line if they signed Johnson to any more than the minimum salary at any time before March 6th. The Heat would pay repeat-offender tax penalties of at least $2.50 for every dollar they’re over the tax line on the final day of the regular season. The Celtics, Rockets, Thunder and Raptors are all among those pursuing Johnson, according to Stein, and the Thunder have the most to give Johnson with about $2.4MM remaining on their prorated taxpayer’s mid-level exception.

The Nets clearly aren’t in the picture for Johnson at this point, but he wouldn’t dismiss the idea of re-signing with them in the summer, as he said before the buyout, and Marks didn’t rule out the possibility as he spoke on the radio today, Mazzeo tweets. “You never know what’s going to happen,” Marks said. Still, Johnson has also said he places a premium on winning, a remark that’s an auspicious sign for the Cavs in their competition with the Hawks and Heat and casts doubt on the idea of a summer reunion with Brooklyn.

Eastern Notes: Stevens, Anthony, Splitter

February 25th, 2016 at 8:35pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Celtics coach Brad Stevens declined to comment about whether the team had any interest in pursuing Joe Johnson, who was waived by the Nets earlier today as part of a buyout arrangement, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com notes (ESPN Now link). The coach did specify what type of player Boston would be looking for to fill its open roster spot, saying, “I think versatility is huge. Certainly shooting’s a big deal. All those things come into play. Obviously, with Kelly [Olynyk] out, interior help is something that you’d have to consider, but hopefully he’s not out too long and I think the versatility stands out more than anything else.”

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis doesn’t want to lose Carmelo Anthony as a teammate and looks at the veteran scorer as a role model, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv relays. Several teams apparently think that if the Knicks don’t make significant progress in their rebuilding project by mid-July, Anthony would be willing to approve a trade. “Oh well, obviously I wouldn’t want to lose him,” Porzingis said regarding ‘Melo. “He is who he is on our team. He’s special and we need him to do big things in the future, especially for me. I love playing alongside him so that would obviously not be something that I want.“
Hawks center Tiago Splitter underwent successful surgery today to repair damage to his right hip, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution relays. Splitter will miss the remainder of the season as a result of the injury and subsequent surgery.
Bucks big man Greg Monroe has been coming off the bench lately for the team, which isn’t necessarily what he had in mind when he inked a maximum salary deal with the team this past summer, Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times writes. When asked if he regretted signing with Milwaukee, Monroe said, “It’s not something they had planned when I was coming here. So, no, I can’t answer that question because it wasn’t something that was planned all along.’’ The big man also admitted that he heard the trade chatter involving him but wasn’t fazed, Woelfel adds. “I didn’t get bothered by it. I’ve been in the league awhile; I’ve been in free agency and reports came out then and I know they were totally false. And these situations are basically the same, so I was sure it was all speculation.’’
The Celtics have assigned swingman James Young to the Maine Red Claws, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be Young’s eighth jaunt of the season to Maine.