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Houston Rockets Rumors: Why Joe Johnson makes such a great team fit

By Brian K. Patterson

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 04: Stephen Curry
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 04: Stephen Curry /
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The Houston Rockets are dominating the headlines once again but it isn’t for trades but on the buyout market.  This is certainly a way for the team to bolster their roster on the cheap without having to turnover any major pieces of their roster.  Joe Johnson is the latest guy to be bought out and is set to sign with team.  What’s next and how does he fit?

The Houston Rockets continue to find innovative ways to stay ahead of the competition despite the challenges a trade would’ve been without busting up the current chemistry of the team.  Although there was some talk of Ryan Anderson being dealt before the deadline, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.  He’s still owed around $40 million for the next two seasons and his avid marksman status from behind-the-arc still doesn’t overshadow his sub-par defensive prowess among other things.

It’s best to keep him because of his specific will prove to be fruitful whenever the team rolls into the playoffs.  He wasn’t that great this past playoff run but he was also reeling from some injuries that he sustained toward the end of the season.  Let’s not hope for a repeat this season.

But enough about Anderson, he’s not going anywhere.  The Houston Rockets are set to acquire the services of veteran guard Joe Johnson once he clears waivers this coming Monday.

Of course, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski had the scoop on his roster buyout from the Sacramento Kings:

Woj also added the most important tidbit for us in Houston Rockets nation to know:

Johnson, a long-time favorite of mine, will finally be donning Rockets Red for this championship run this team is trying to make.  He could be the piece to put us over the top because with the soon-to-be addition of power forward/center Brandan Wright, it makes this roster complete from top to bottom.  This just needed adjustments on the edges and I think Daryl Morey has found those guys to fulfill said positions.

What’s there not to like about Johnson?  Although he’s nearing toward the twilight of his career, he’s still can be quick points-creator, floor general as well as provide a state of shock on the defensive end of the hardwood.  Not to mention that he is familiar with Mike D’Antoni‘s style as Johnson played for him from 2003-05 when he was coaching the Phoenix Suns. He won’t get as many minutes as he has had in earlier stages of his career but I don’t see why he should get close to 10 minutes or less per game, possibly more.  He had been averaging 21.9 minutes per game with the Jazz.

Johnson was part of the blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers that involved the Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and his former team, the Utah Jazz.  Johnson was just the casualty of the movement that was at breakneck pace the day the pact announced just two days ago.

It’s evidently clear the Kings weren’t going to contend for any time soon so since they’re flush with cash, it made sense for Johnson to be bought out.  The team is currently under the $99 million salary cap with $96M committed to salary for 2017-18.  With the buyout, that numbers reduces even further.

Johnson was on the final season of a two-year, $21.5 million deal that he signed at the start of

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the 2016-17 with the Jazz.  He was set to make $10.5 million this season because things are at the midpoint, it makes the buyout process worthy to execute.

It’s likely that we’ll see Johnson in his debut against the Kings — an ironic opponent — this upcoming Wednesday, which happens to be Valentine’s Day.  This couldn’t have been a better gift the Houston Rockets could’ve bestowed among fans, continuing to captivate our affinity for this great franchise.

Woj also reported that Bobby Brown was re-signed for the remainder of the season but has been waived to create a roster spot for Johnson.

Johnson, 36, is averaging 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists off 42 percent shooting from the field and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe through 32 games — three starts — this season.

Johnson is currently shooting 27.4 percent from three but that’s down from his career-average of a respectable 37.2 percent. 

Next: Why the Rockets want to acquire Brandan Wright

I’d expect that number to go up as this team shoots threes by volume and attest that Quin Snyder’s system is not necessarily accustomed to the style that D’Antoni employs, resulting in the drop-off.  For a man that typically nails 1.6 threes a game for his career, it’s almost a certainty.

Go Rockets.

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