The race to acquire Joe Johnson has officially made its way into the fold. A report this morning surfaced that the Brooklyn Nets and Johnson have begun negotiations on a buyout to make him a free agent. The Nets aren’t in a position to contend this season, as they currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-42. Johnson is getting up there in age and wants to go to a team where he has an opportunity to play in the postseason and have a shot at a ring. Both sides have come to the realization it won’t happen in Brooklyn, making these negotiations a surprise to nobody.
So how does this affect the Cleveland Cavaliers and where do they stand in the Johnson sweepstakes? Logistically, they have two open roster spots that need to be filled, so they won’t be forced to cut someone who’s currently on the roster if they make a run at Johnson. They also haven’t gotten significant production from their reserve wing players this year, as Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson have regressed this season and simply don’t look like themselves, making the option of adding Johnson that much more intriguing.
Adding Johnson makes a lot of sense for a few reasons. He’s a career 44 percent shooter and can help the Cavs space out the floor while running various offensive sets. He’s a veteran player who’s been to the playoffs eight years in a row with the Atlanta Hawks and Nets and is capable of adapting to Tyronn Lue‘s new system very quickly.
Multiple teams will have interest in Johnson, and I expect the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors to make a serious run at him once the negotiations are completed. Ultimately, when it comes down to it, Johnson has to go to a place that gives him the best chance to win, and I think the Cavs give him the strongest opportunity to make that happen. That’s not to say the Raptors aren’t a solid franchise, but at this current time, the Cavs would win a free agency battle against the majority of the teams in the league simply because of their roster makeup and potential to make it back to the finals.
In terms of the Thunder, they’ll have a chance, but playing in the Western Conference puts them at a major disadvantage and hurts their chances of acquiring him. As it stands they don’t have enough firepower on their roster to take down the San Antonio Spurs or Golden State Warriors and make it to the NBA Finals. They’ll go deep in the playoffs, but even adding Johnson won’t be enough to navigate around those roadblocks.
That’s why I think he picks Cleveland. It’s his easiest path to get to the finals and ultimately his best chance at getting some hardware.
