Joe Johnson Would be a Great Fit with Boston

The Brooklyn Nets recently bought out Joe Johnson’s contract and he would make a great addition for the Boston Celtics for the remainder of the season

Joe Johnson was arguably the most overpaid player in the league this season, even more so than Kobe Bryant. On a 15-42 Brooklyn Nets team, that has close to no talent, Johnson was making $24.9 million and producing minimal stats. After signing a $123.7 million dollar contract over six seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Johnson has not lived up to expectations.

This season he is averaging a career-low 11.8 points per game on 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 37.1 percent from behind the arc. Johnson also adds 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 33.9 minutes per game.

Johnson’s career is quickly coming to an end, although he has expressed interest in playing next season as well. His stats are nothing to salivate over, but Johnson would still be a great addition for the Boston Celtics this season.

No, Johnson is not that star player that would put the Celtics over the top this season, but he would make them a better team. Despite his numbers being a career worst, Johnson would fit the Celtics’ style of play perfectly. He is a scoring wing who can score a lot of points off the bench quickly. He is no longer able to carry a team, especially one with as little talent as the Nets have, however, he would still be a solid bench player for a contender.

His ability to shoot the ball would fit the fast-paced offense that the Celtics play. The more spread out floor and better surrounding team would help the aging shooting guard get more open shots, as well as being able to get to the basket more often.

Isaiah Thomas is the only player on the Celtics who can score in bunches consistently. The Celtics have many defensive specialists but few players who focus their game around scoring. Johnson would not be asked to do any more than help space the floor and knock down shots. And with his shooting ability he would have no problem with that. Despite his down season, Johnson has connected on 47.4 percent of shots from 10-16 feet away, showing his mid-range game to go along with his three-point shooting.

The bad news is, a lot of contenders feel the same way about Johnson. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and more are interested in adding Johnson for the remainder of the season. Right now, it seems that the Cavaliers are the favorite to land the 34-year-old shooting guard. Johnson will not officially clear waivers until Saturday at 5ET and he is expected to take a couple of days to make a decision.

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The Celtics can offer more money than most teams, at around $2 million. However, after making the kind of money he was making over the past six seasons, I think winning would be the most important factor in his decision. Plus, the addition of playing alongside LeBron James could sway Johnson towards the Cavaliers.

A reunion with the team that drafted him 10th overall back in 2001 is definitely on the table. There is no doubt the Celtics would have eyed Johnson at the trade deadline if it wasn’t for his massive contract. Landing a player like Johnson this late in the season will be a huge addition for any team.

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A scoring wing, along with an inside presence, is something the Boston Celtics are missing. Johnson may not choose the Celtics, but Danny Ainge would be crazy to not go hard after him. Either way, the buy out of Joe Johnson’s contract will help the Celtics as this will undoubtedly make the Nets pick more valuable as they’re battling the Phoenix Suns for the third worst record in the league.