Detroit Pistons: Taking a chance on veteran Joe Johnson
The Detroit Pistons signed veteran combo guard, Joe Johnson, to a one-year deal last week. It is conditionally worth $2.6 million, the condition being he is still on the roster in January. The 38-year-old player may be past his prime, but there are still qualities he can bring to the roster.
In Joe Johnson, the Detroit Pistons are getting a veteran player who can still add decent minutes off the bench. His professional career began in 2001 when the Celtics selected him 10th overall in the draft. Since then, he has played with seven different teams, most notably with the Atlanta Hawks, during which he appeared in six consecutive All-Star games. In 2010, he was named third-team All-NBA. He has had a long, fruitful career which will probably earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Over his seventeen seasons, Johnson averaged 16 points per game, shooting 44% (37% from three). His primary role has evolved from guard to forward, but in any case, he occupies some combination of the two. What is most worrisome, though, is the results of his last full season in the NBA. Minutes and usage had understandably been on the decline, but nearly every statistical category was down as well, some more substantial than others.
His shooting was the weakest it had been in years, and he was no longer making it to the free-throw line. His defense diminished too, to the point he was allowing more than he produced; 2017-18 was indeed a concerning year for Joe Johnson. This explains, in part, the January provision on his contract.
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Possibly because of the mediocre season, Johnson more recently played in the Big3, the 3-on-3 league mostly made up of former players. After leading that league in points and assists (and 4-pointers, for what it’s worth), the hope is he can still be an asset on an NBA team. Although he is not the first player to transition back into the league after playing with the Big3, he is the most talented to do so and still a rarity. It is worth mentioning he is leaving behind a championship team, the Triplets.
Even if he is not up to the All-Star standards he set a decade ago, the Pistons still have a use for him. He brings some veteran leadership the team sorely missed last season. He has played an astounding 44,000 minutes; he will need to play another 1,200 to make it into the top 20 all-time. He has also played in 120 playoff games, more than any other Piston. Sure, he will be one of the oldest players in the league to suit up next season, but his experience cannot be discounted.
Remember how we felt about bringing in Michael Beasley a month ago? The Detroit Pistons have now waived him to open up the spot for Johnson. While Johnson has had a better overall career than Beasley, his durability is unknown. Eight years older, Johnson took a year off from the NBA in 2018-19 but has still played twice as many games and three times as many minutes as Beasley. This is the other facet of the January provision. In the end, Johnson will compete with Christian Wood for playing time.
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For the Detroit Pistons, there is no harm in taking a chance on Joe Johnson. If he can bring a solid sixteen minutes, which he has been more than capable of doing. He can provide some relief to a thin position at shooting forward. Additionally, he has veteran leadership which cannot be discounted. If he does not produce at a high enough level, the team can cut ties in January.