JULY 11: The Raptors have officially signed Johnson, the team announced today in a press release. It’s not clear yet whether the team used its mid-level or bi-annual exception to complete the signing.
JULY 6: Small forward Stanley Johnson has agreed to a two-year, $7.5MM contract with the Raptors, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. The second year will include a player option, Charania adds.
Johnson won’t make anyone in Toronto forget Kawhi Leonard but he’ll absorb some of the Finals’ MVP’s minutes with Leonard heading to the Clippers. Johnson has been a disappointment since the Pistons selected him in the lottery in 2015.
Johnson’s contract could fit into Toronto’s bi-annual exception of $3.623MM or it could use a portion of the $9.258MM mid-level exception.
He played 3 1/2 years with Detroit before he was dealt to Milwaukee, which quickly shipped him to New Orleans just before last season’s trade deadline. Johnson appeared in 18 games with the Pelicans, averaging 5.3 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 13.7 MPG. For his career, Johnson has averaged 7.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 1.5 APG in 21.6 MPG.
His strength is his defensive prowess with the ability to guard four positions. Outside shooting (29.3% on 3-point tries) has been a major issue for Johnson at the offensive end. At 23, Johnson still has time to establish himself as at least a solid rotation player.
Wait, so he’s going to be a starter and replace Kawhi? He averages 7 ppg!
No way he starts over Anunoby.
PapiElf,
Be realistic. Cheaper/Younger player. I’m not a Raptors fan. Kwahi cleary let to play closer to “HOME”, to play with Paul George and to be coached by Doc Rivers. Who wouldn’t want all that. Mostly everyone with a brain knew it was gonna be a one and done situation.
Raptors really need to trade for Wiggins who can score and bring some excitement back to the team .. Wiggins plus a #1 for a PG and one of their shooting guards ??
Annouby and vanbleet for Wiggins as a Wolves fan i can accepted make it happen
Or Lowry and Annouby
Fills one of their open spots, would look at Avery Bradley now that he’s available.
Kawhi, who? Back to back, baby!!!
JonnyLucas,
Really the guy brings the Raptors a title and that’s how you wanna talk about it? Be glad you got 1 title and cherish it cause you won’t see another one for a long time. No way they repeat!
Along with Hollis-Jefferson, Johnson gives Toronto two young players with length who play excellent defense – neither are going to replace Leonard’s offensive output but the two will be able to compensate for the loss of Leonard’s defensive talents.
From a mid-range free agent prospective, these are both very good acquisitions.
And neither can shoot a lick. I’m sorta surprised the Raps picked them up with OG returning. Seems like a minutes jam waiting to happen.
RHJ will back up Siakam. He played the PF position in BKN and I’d imagine he’ll play it in TOR. What I don’t understand is Stanley got more money than Rondae. RHJ puts up better numbers and plays better D. The one thing Johnson has is that he shoots better, but not much better.
Another Stan Van Grundy crappy draft picks. Again, why was he ever hired as a basketball analyst when he basketball IQ for evaluating talent is ZERO!