UPDATE: In a turn of events from yesterday, Johnson has chosen to sign with Miami. This leaves the Cavaliers still with two open roster spots. Shams Charania of The Vertical broke the news.
Free agent Joe Johnson has committed to a deal with the Miami Heat after he clears waivers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 26, 2016
Joe Johnson was reportedly all but with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now rumor has it that the Miami Heat are the favorites.
Some Cavs fans have wrung their hands about acquiring the recently waived wing. Other Cavs fans see him as a missing piece that gives them versatility and late game talents.
Either way, most thought Johnson was likely to be a Cav soon. While other options, including his former team the Atlanta Hawks, were out there, the Cavs gave him the best chance for a trip to the NBA Finals and a Title.
Reports were out quickly yesterday that the Cavs were in the lead. LeBron James noted today that Johnson was aware that the Cavs wanted him. Then comes two different reports that Johnson was leaning to the Heat:
Source: Miami Heat have emerged as the frontrunner to sign Joe Johnson. JJ feels he'd have a larger role & more meaningful minutes with Heat
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 26, 2016
Can confirm reports that Miami is in the lead for Joe Johnson. Was just given a very high percentage that he's coming
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) February 26, 2016
Update: Sam Amico had a source saying these reports were not true and related them to LeBron James story from last summer:
"One league source strongly refuted that report, telling Amico Hoops “that information had to have come from (Heat president) Pat Riley — the same guy that probably told ESPN LeBron was upset about (Cavs owner)Dan Gilbert’s letter a few hours before LeBron returned to the Cavs.”"
With the Heat, Johnson would have a chance to play more minutes but not “meaningful minutes” will only be true during the Regular Season and maybe a round in the Playoffs.
With the Cavs, Johnson’s minutes would be less but his role could be very important. he could play 3 positions, guard a variety of guys and give the Cavs a good counter to the lineup of death from the Golden State Warriors. The minutes he would play would be very important and, likely, would also include minutes in the NBA Finals.
For the Heat, Johnson also doesn’t make sense because of tax purposes. The Heat worked really hard around the NBA Trade Deadline to get under the tax line as a way to avoid the repeater tax penalties and restart their clock.
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Adding Johnson would stop all of that. That seems like an awful lot for a player who is unlikely to be a true difference maker in the Playoffs.
For the Cavs, losing out on Johnson probably isn’t a huge deal. While Johnson would have been a nice addition, the Cavs should be confident in their abilities and could still add Kevin Martin as a substitute. Martin wouldn’t be a perfect fit but wouldn’t be bad either.
Even Ty Lawson is likely to be bought out. Again not a perfect fit but more talent is more talent.
What do you think about this Joe Johnson to the Heat report?