Despite bringing in a solid chunk of cash, Amir Johnson‘s role with the Philadelphia 76ers won’t be that big — at least not on the court.
Not too long after the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to terms on a one-year, $23 million deal with J.J. Redick, the team made a move for yet another veteran, adding former Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson on a one-year, $11 million deal. While the deal seems expensive at first glance, the financial flexibility that comes with short term deals cancels out any real ill-effects — especially for a team with as much cap space as Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 76ers
Johnson’s an interesting addition nonetheless.The 30-year-old has 12 years of NBA experience under his belt, which could inevitably be the most valuable number he brings to this Sixers squad. Even while starting for a first-seeded Boston team last season, Johnson’s output was middling at best. He does some solid things on both sides of the ball, but is a painstakingly average player as a whole. He has only averaged double digit scoring twice in his career, with his highest mark coming at just 10.4 points per game back in 2014 with the Raptors.
In short, Johnson’s signing wasn’t based on production. He’s not going to start, while the bulk of his on-court production will likely come in spurts that are sprinkled between far heavier minutes for Joel Embiid and Richaun Holmes at the five.
What he does bring, though, is a mentor. He’s somebody who has been on — and contributed to — successful teams in the past, and that’s the type of seasoned presence that Philadelphia has always tried to maintain in the frontcourt. Elton Brand was their solution a few years back, while last season’s veteran guidance was sourced from the likes of Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez in the backcourt — both of whom will not be returning to the team come next season.
That kind of presence, even for a team with a culture as strong as the Sixers’, is normally a net positive. Philadelphia is primed for a legitimate run at the playoffs next season, something the bulk of this rotation hasn’t experienced before. Johnson gives them somebody who has undergone many of the trials that come with playing for a successful unit in the past.
He’ll also provides them with legitimate production when he is needed, something Brand didn’t always provide. While Embiid, Holmes and Dario Saric should all be locked into more minutes, Johnson still has value as a rim-runner and occasional floor spacer on the offensive end. He shot 40.9 percent from deep last season, albeit his attempts were low and his track records hints at inconsistency far more than reliability.
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If there’s one player in the league who wows you on a nightly basis, Johnson isn’t it. He’s one of the most unequivocally uninteresting players to watch on a nightly basis, which in and of itself has always made his production an enigma. His lack of a strong presence on the boards and somewhat limited rim protection devalues his defensive presence, while his steady hand offensively doesn’t result in the most awe-inspiring of moments.
He was, however, a starter for a top-seeded team. He wasn’t the Celtics’ strongest point, nor is he a surefire starter for most other team, but that proves his worth as an NBA player. Somebody who’s capable of maintaining production in an important role when called upon can’t be undersold, and Johnson, at the very least, gives Brett Brown that rotational optionality.
It’s odd for such a lucrative deal to be handed out to a player with such a minute role, but Johnson’s importance, and potential impact, does range well beyond his statistical output. Not only is does he bring that veteran savvy to the table, but he’s also a valuable trade chip for a team who may need to match salaries in some form closer to the deadline. He’s an $11 million deal that other teams wouldn’t need on their books past this season. That’s the type of asset that can help facilitate a potential Jahlil Okafor deal, among other things.
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Bryan Colangelo played an interesting hand here, but the risk is virtually nonexistent With the team not commuting any significant cash towards their current core until next offseason, they have the flexibility to reach on deals like this one.