Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the 2018-19 roster post-trade deadline

14. Amir Johnson

This past summer, Amir Johnson re-signed with the Sixers on a vet minimum. Johnson had a decent year in 2017-18. He appeared in 74 games and registered a defensive rating of 103, which was tied with Robert Covington. Johnson also shot over 50 percent from the floor and finished fourth on the team in offensive rebounds and blocks. His spot in the playoff rotation evaporated, once Ersan Ilyasova found his role as the backup center. Re-signing Johnson was a neutral move.

Johnson is at No.14 on our list because he has unfortunately regressed. He’s been out of the rotation for weeks. Johnson was once a starting power forward (vintage Amir Johnson would be an awesome backup center on this team), and is now a reserve center that only cracks the rotation in garbage time or due to frontcourt injuries.

His role on offense has diminished even further, and defensively the only players he can guard are lumbering big men. Amir Johnson is only 31, but he’s in his 13th year and the basketball lifer’s miles are showing.

Last week, Johnson requested to play in a Delaware Blue Coats game. Not many NBA vets would ask to play a G-League game after falling out of the rotation. Johnson was drafted out of high school, and wanted to stay sharp by playing in a minor-league game that he didn’t have to.

A rampant complaint of the Process years was the lack of a veteran leader. The Sixers have just that in Amir Johnson. He no longer has the quick-feet and athleticism that made him an efficient two-way player, but his high-character and leadership are what makes him a great Sixer.

— AJ Iezzi