The Nets are eyeing free agent forward Stanley Johnson and may have interest in signing him, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Johnson has been around Nets players and staff members in Southern California for his offseason workouts, Scotto adds.
Johnson, 25, was the eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft and spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his NBA career in Detroit before being traded to New Orleans. He played for the Raptors from 2019-21, earning a spot in the team’s regular rotation this past season.
Johnson’s 2020/21 numbers (4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, .382/.328/.800 shooting) in 61 games for Toronto don’t exactly jump off the page, but he did provide some energy and defensive versatility off the bench. The Nets aren’t exactly lacking for offense, so a defense-first player like Johnson could be a fit.
Currently, Brooklyn has 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, with DeAndre’ Bembry on a partial guarantee and Alize Johnson on a non-guaranteed deal. If the team buys out or trades DeAndre Jordan, a roster spot could open up for Johnson or another veteran free agent, such as Isaiah Hartenstein. Unsigned second-round picks Marcus Zegarowski and RaiQuan Gray are also in the picture, though the Nets already have two rookies on their 15-man roster and might not want to add any more.
Johnson would be a good fit with the Nets, but he’d get more playing time with a team like Golden State
He has D league written all over him. He’s a project. I don’t see him making the Nets. They’d rather have successful veterans vs projects.
Johnson is not a “D League Project” – he has played for 6 seasons & almost 400 game with nearly 25% of those as a starter.
He would be a valuable role player in Brooklyn or any contender and a solid 7-8 man on the rest of the teams.
Johnson started as a fast-track guy on a bad team. He did not really earn it.
He could be good enough for reduced expectations as the article said, but Ujiri for one said not.
It has been called the G-League for the last 4 years now.
While Johnson has been a disappointment, he’s not really a project either.