As expected, Tyler Johnson has exercised his player option for the 2019/20 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Johnson will make approximately $19.25MM next year.
Back in 2016, the Nets presented Johnson with a backloaded, four-year, $50MM offer sheet, which was designed to make it difficult for Miami to match. However, the contract didn’t deter the Heat from keeping Johnson.
Johnson continued playing in Miami until February of this past year. The Suns then traded for Johnson as Miami was looking to clear some salary. Johnson suited up for 13 games for Phoenix, starting 12 of them at point guard.
I generally hold the belief that ALL NBA players are phenomenal. If a player doesn’t do so well, in general I question the system they play in.
When these outlandish player options are opted into, however, I feel like the player knows they ‘ain’t all that’…
Occasionally, one of the less-bright players turns down that option, ‘betting on myself’ and it goes horribly wrong.
This guy isn’t even worth half his salary. yikes!
You are worth what someone is willing to pay you.
Who said the suns are willing to pay? He exercised his option. Wasn’t a team option and the Suns didn’t give him the contract. Miami paid for him to play elsewhere
You sound like a writer trying to pretend they understand economics. No – that is only indicative of what 1 person will pay, and that does not constitute a market. He would get nothing close to that on the open market – thus his “value”.
He’ll make $20mil next year. Wasn’t.gonna make that on the open market. He signed that deal when everyone was getting overpaid. He’ll enter the FAa next year and someone will sign him. He’s good. Not $20mil good, but good. No brainier to opt in and then sign for.morenyewrs next year.
This is why teams shouldn’t sign 2nd round or undrafted rookies to 2 year deals. 3-4 year college guys with real talent can outperform expectations 1st round picks for a couple of years, even to the degree where teams believe they can’t lose them. Matching rarely turns out well, often a disaster, like this one.
Trier’s on deck.