The Rockets just got a little deeper on the wing over the weekend, as veteran small forward Joe Johnson agreed to a one-year minimum deal with the team after being bought out by the Kings.
Joe Johnson will sign with Rockets once buyout with Kings is done, per @wojespn pic.twitter.com/4vQD0qWfGW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 10, 2018
Johnson joins Brendan Wright as a buyout addition to an already highly talented Houston Rockets team.
Johnson, 36, is clearly not the player he was in his prime or even a couple a seasons ago, he has struggled this season averaging 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 32 appearances on 42% shooting from the field and a career low 27% from three-point range.
He is a very smooth player that doesn’t rely on a ton of athleticism or quickness to be effective though and he should have plenty of open looks in his limited minutes alongside James Harden and Chris Paul, so I could see the change of scenery helping Johnson get some of his shooting touch back.
Johnson played for Mike D’Antoni for three seasons in the mid-2000s when he began to breakout as a player before signing a huge contract with the Atlanta Hawks after being traded during the summer of 2005.
He turned down an offer from the Warriors to join the Rockets, which is pretty interesting. Johnson has never won an NBA title or played in an NBA Finals, he clearly has confidence the Rockets can get there this season.
