Amir Johnson is Not a Long Term Option

Amir Johnson has been a solid player for the Boston Celtics and has been about what they should have expected when they got him in free agency. Unfortunately for Johnson, the Celtics need bigger and better plans for the future of their front court. With Johnson only having one more year on a $12 million contract, the Celtics should put good use to Johnson for one final year but need` to have better options on the team after that.

Johnson did end up being one of the most stable aspects of the Celtics’ chaotic front court this season. He was brought in as their top free agent acquisition last season and he was expected to immediately have a solid role as a contributor, and he did just that. Unfortunately, he did nothing more that could make him a necessary part of the team.

Johnson was a reliable finisher, shooting just under 60%, but was never a game changer on the offensive end. He did a great job playing clean up at the rim but his efforts to extend beyond the three point line sums up the rest of his offensive game well. Johnson looked to set a record for longest release of all time but that was never enough to make him a threat that needed to be respected.

Johnson was the Celtics’ most reliable big in the paint but his limited offensive arsenal left him with just 7.3 points per game. Johnson was one of the team leaders with 1.1 blocks per game. Unfortunately, him being a leader with a mark of 1.1 says more about how poor the Celtics’ rim protection is, than how good Johnson is as a rim protector.

Johnson was a solid rebounder but, once again, never excelled enough to be a true difference maker. Jared Sullinger is a good rebounding comparison. While Sullinger did not average drastically more rebounds per game than Johnson, he was able to make a much bigger difference with his ability to convert his offensive boards into second chance points.

Johnson was right around his career average in every relevant statistical category. The Celtics cannot be upset with a season that should have been in line with what they expected. Johnson started 76 games for the Celtics and played over 22 minutes per game, but at no point did he ever appear to be a long term solution.

Johnson was solid and reliable on both ends, but did not change how the Celtics attacked opposing teams, and did not change how opposing teams attacked the Celtics. Johnson was consistent for the Celtics but they need to be looking for more than that. In a front court that lacks a game changer on either end, there is no sense in the Celtics keeping Johnson once he finishes the second year of his contract.

Right now, the money is not an issue. However, if the Celtics are active in free agency and get what they need from their top pick then they will have to be much more careful with what they are paying minor role players on the team. Johnson has proven that he can be capable player, but the Celtics will struggle to take the next step as a contender if Johnson continues to be one of the top players in the front court.

As they stand right now, the Celtics can still put good use to Johnson in that final year of his contract. They still do not have the personnel in their front court to make him useless. Other than Jordan Mickey and Kelly Olynyk, the Celtics do not have the young talent that is expected to surpass the kind of player that Johnson already is.

With 8 picks in the upcoming draft, and multiple top free agents that play in the front court, the Celtics need to make sure that they do not need Johnson once his contract is up. If the Celtics can resign Johnson on a lower contract and use him in a bench role then he can certainly be a contributor, even after the Celtics make the necessary roster improvements. That is where is potential ends, though.

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The Celtics are lacking in their top end talent and they cannot improve by accumulating players at the level of Johnson. Johnson did exactly what the Celtics acquired him for this season. Unfortunately, their team goals will be drastically different once his contract is up, compared to where they were when they originally signed him.