Ivan Johnson Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Ivan Johnson Signs With Chinese Team

August 29th, 2013 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

8:51am: Johnson's agent, Jeremiah Haylett, has confirmed that his client has signed with Zhejiang, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).

8:37am: After failing to receive any NBA offers to his liking, Ivan Johnson has signed with China's Zhejiang Golden Bulls, according to a Hupu.com report (translation via HoopsHype). We haven't heard yet from Johnson's camp that the deal is official, but based on the report out of China, it looks like the big man is heading overseas for the coming season.

Johnson, 29, reportedly set an end-of-August deadline for NBA offers, and with no suitable opportunities stateside, opted instead for one of his international offers. Playing in non-NBA leagues is nothing new for the Oregon product, who has spent time with teams in South Korea and Puerto Rico, as well as playing in China in 2011 before coming to the NBA.

In two NBA seasons with Atlanta, Johnson averaged 6.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG to go along with a 15.1 PER in 125 contests. The former Hawk drew interest from the Knicks this offseason, and reportedly engaged in preliminary talks with at least six NBA teams in total. However, I would guess none of those clubs were willing to offer more than the minimum.

Former NBA players Quincy Douby, Eddy Curry, and Josh Boone played for the CBA's Golden Bulls in 2012/13.

Knicks Still Considering Haddadi, Johnson, Barron

August 26th, 2013 at 9:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Knicks have been looking for a big man the past few weeks, but it's been 10 days since we've heard any news about who they might be targeting. Hamed Haddadi, Ivan Johnson and Earl Barron have all drawn mention at some point, and according to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com, all three remain in the mix.

Haddadi's 7'2" frame and his ability in the paint intrigue Knicks brass, a source tells Zwerling, adding that the five-year NBA veteran is open to a minimum-salary deal. The Knicks have had their eyes on him for a while this summer, but he wasn't able to visit New York until mid-August because he was busy playing for his native Iran in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and winning the tournament's MVP award. Haddadi's agent, Marc Cornstein, also reps Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih, two players the Knicks signed this summer, as Zwerling points out.

The Knicks are still having talks with Barron and Johnson, who last week reportedly set a deadline for NBA teams to make an amenable offer, lest he sign with an overseas club. That deadline is now a week away, but the Knicks are in no hurry, Zwerling hears. It's possible that the team won't add any more guaranteed contracts, a source tells Zwerling. If that's the case, they may wind up going with unproven talent instead of someone who's played in the NBA before, as Haddadi, Johnson and Barron have.

Zwerling doesn't mention the last big man to be linked to the team, Cole Aldrich, so it's not clear whether the former 11th overall pick is still on the team's radar.

Ivan Johnson Sets Deadline For NBA Offers

August 19th, 2013 at 1:38pm CST by Luke Adams

For NBA teams in need of frontcourt depth, Ivan Johnson appears to be one of the most intriguing options still available, but so far he hasn't received any offers to his liking. We heard on Friday that Johnson was weighing offers from overseas teams, and it may just be a matter of time before he accepts one of them.

According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Johnson will give NBA teams up to two more weeks to offer a suitable deal. If he doesn't like any of his NBA options at that point, the 29-year-old will decide on one of his offers from overseas.

The Knicks are among the teams that have inquired on Johnson, but New York hasn't reached out with the same regularity recently, and none of the other clubs have made a concrete offer, according to Haynes. Even though the Knicks can only offer the veteran's minimum, Johnson would still be interested in New York, says Haynes. The club is said to be considering adding one more big man.

After spending several years playing overseas and in the D-League, Johnson has played for the Hawks the last two seasons, averaging 6.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG to go along with a 15.1 PER in 125 career NBA contests.

Ivan Johnson Considering Overseas Offers

August 16th, 2013 at 2:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent Ivan Johnson hasn't seen interest from NBA teams build in recent weeks and he's now seriously considering lucrative offers out of China and Italy, according to Shams Charania of RealGM. Four clubs are still in talks with Johnson, but none of those teams have stepped up enough for his representatives to feel good about things.

Johnson, who is one of the better big men left on the open market, is looking for offers higher than the veteran's minimum. That could be overly ambitious considering the fact that Johnson's free agency has been moving in "slow motion" as of late.

“It is very legitimate Ivan could end up overseas this season,” agent Jeremiah Haylett said. “It’s the best possibility right now. It wouldn’t be a multi-year deal, though, because he would like to get back into the NBA.”

Over the past two seasons, the 6'8" forward has averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 125 games for the Hawks. The Knicks have been among the clubs linked to Johnson, but his salary requirements coupled with the signing of Jeremy Tyler could hurt his chances in New York.

Johnson is no stranger to playing overseas, having had stints in South Korea, Puerto Rico, and China.

Ivan Johnson

Odds & Ends: Pietrus, Knicks, Johnson

August 15th, 2013 at 6:30pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Mickael Pietrus's agent Bill McCandless tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that the 6'6 forward has a workout scheduled with an undisclosed NBA team in September, and that two other teams have shown interest in bringing him in for a look as well. The 31-year-old swingman last played for the Raptors in 2012-13, averaging 20.3 MPG, 5.3 PPG, and 34.7% shooting from the field in 19 games. McCandless added that Pietrus is currently working out in France and is "100% healthy." Here are a few more news and notes from around the NBA:

Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun (via Twitter) confirms that undrafted point guard Myck Kabongo has left agent Rich Paul and will now be represented by Bill Duffy, who also represents Lakers guard Steve Nash.
Citing a source familiar with the Knicks' plans, Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York tweets that the Knicks could possibly be looking to add another big man, but it isn't clear if they're looking to do so now or during veteran's camp (Twitter link).
Along with most free agents right now, Ivan Johnson isn't making much progress on any contract talks, as Zwerling (via Twitter) relays a source close to the situation who says that things are still in "slow motion right now."
Grantland's Jonathan Abrams writes an excellent piece which revisits the circumstances that contributed to Jonny Flynn's struggles with finding a niche in the NBA and the hip injury in Minnesota that stifled his development. Despite the lack of opportunity with the Clippers in this year's summer league, the 24-year-old guard is still determined to make it out of an NBA training camp in the fall. However, he could possibly opt for China or Spain if it doesn't work out.
Jeff Caplan of NBA.com thinks the change of scenery from Milwaukee to Dallas could be just what Mavericks guard Monta Ellis needed to become more efficient and consistent at this point in his career.

Odds & Ends: Pekovic, Paul, Ennis, Knicks

August 9th, 2013 at 11:12pm CST by Chuck Myron

NBA teams hit the hardwood again in October, but some of the news tonight concerns courts of a different nature. Cuttino Mobley dropped his lawsuit against the parent company of the Knicks in the hopes that doing so will make it easier for him to play again in the NBA, while lawyers for the former owners of the Kings have allegedly funded an effort to stymie Sacramento's arena plans. While we await more on those legal matters, here's the latest from around the NBA:

The Wolves and Nikola Pekovic's camp are making progress toward a deal, president of basketball ops Flip Saunders tells Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).
Four NBA teams invited undrafted Illinois shooting guard Brandon Paul to camp, but he's signing to play in Russia instead, Paul reveals via Twitter (hat tip to Zgoda). Paul doesn't say which Russian team he's joining.
Scott Nichols, the agent for James Ennis, tells Shams Charania of RealGM.com that there's a good chance the Heat will sign his client at some point this season, allowing him to invoke the opt-out clause in his contract with an Australian club. Ennis turned down "a lot more money" from Russia's BC Nizhny Novgorod and "a little more" from France's Nantere to sign with the Perth Wildcats, Nichols says to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida. A team from Germany also made a lucrative offer, according to Charania.
Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com chatted with readers today, dishing on possibilities for the final spot on the Knicks 15-man roster, and passing along word from a source that Jeremy Tyler's two-year deal makes it less likely that the team will sign Ivan Johnson.

Eastern Notes: Knicks, Udrih, Nets, Teague

August 8th, 2013 at 10:45am CST by Luke Adams

The Pacers strengthened their bench, the Nets made a big splash by landing Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Andrei Kirilenko, and the Bulls will have Derrick Rose back. Nonetheless, the Heat remain the favorites in the Eastern Conference for 2013/14, according to Hoops Rumors readers. Nearly half of you named Miami the best team in the East in last night's poll, with Indiana receiving about 24% of the vote, followed by Chicago (about 16%) and Brooklyn (12%). Here are a few more items from around the East:

Ivan Johnson has been in talks with the Knicks, but the possibility of the two sides reaching an agreement may be dwindling since Jeremy Tyler signed with the team, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
Before Beno Udrih agreed to sign with the Knicks, the Grizzlies were the other primary suitor for him, and the Sixers also had interest, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). A chance to win with the Knicks was the deciding factor in Udrih's decision, says Begley.
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post spoke to future NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the Nets' offseason spending, and Brooklyn's willingness to pay substantial tax penalties. As Silver notes, the league sought a hard cap during 2011's CBA negotiations, in the hopes that "the teams that have disparate resources are all competing with roughly the same number of chips."
Jeff Teague tells Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld that he realizes his new long-term contract comes with a greater responsibility for the Hawks' success, and that he's ready for a larger role.
In his latest mailbag for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman wonders if a healthy Greg Oden could affect Chris Bosh's role and future with the Heat. Of course, Oden would have to prove he can be healthy and productive before the effect on Bosh could really be evaluated.

Eastern Notes: Ivan Johnson, Wizards, Pistons

August 4th, 2013 at 9:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Eastern Conference has been the weaker side of the NBA for more than a decade, but the teams at the top of the conference should rival their counterparts from the West this season. The Bulls, Pacers and Nets all figure to be tougher competition for the Heat in 2013/14, with the Knicks right behind. As we wait to see how it plays out, here's the latest news related to Eastern teams:

Agent Jeremiah Haylett tells Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype that he's exploring overseas options for Ivan Johnson (Twitter link). The Knicks are one of six NBA teams who've spoken to the burly power forward, and though the Hawks were reportedly interested in bringing him back as of mid-July, they've since renounced his rights.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman is glad the team locked up John Wall, who became the 15th NBA player to have a maximum-salary contract on the books when he signed his extension this week. J. Michael of CSNWashington.com has Wittman's thoughts on the team's offseason.
The gamble that Brandon Jennings will be better than Brandon Knight in the long run is the latest in a series of risks that will decide Joe Dumars' fate, opines Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press. Of course, Dumars and the Pistons might already be plotting to move on from Jennings, according to a report we passed along earlier today.

Odds & Ends: Pekovic, Adelman, Johnson, Sixers

August 2nd, 2013 at 11:21pm CST by Chuck Myron

Timberwolves president of basketball ops Flip Saunders remains optimistic that the club will soon re-sign Nikola Pekovic, and tells Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune that he's trying to explain the thought process behind the team's offer to the big man and his camp. Saunders stopped short of confirming that coach Rick Adelman will be back for this coming season, but echoed owner Glen Taylor's comments from last month, saying that he's optimstic that Adelman will return. There's more from Minnesota and other NBA locales in tonight's roundup:

The Wolves reached out to Ivan Johnson's camp earlier this summer, but the team has since moved on, reports Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (Twitter link).
The Sixers received permission last month to interview Bulls assistant coach Ed Pinckney, and the interview has indeed taken place, observes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who names David Vanterpool, Michael Curry, and Jay Larranaga as the other "serious candidates" behind front-runner Brett Brown.
A multitude of conflicting recent reports left it unclear whether 53rd overall pick Colton Iverson would play overseas or join the Celtics this season, but a source tells Jay King of MassLive.com that Iverson has signed his one-year deal with Besiktas of Turkey.
DeMarre Carroll indicated on Twitter tonight that he's inked his deal with the Hawks. The team is expected to make a formal announcement Saturday, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
LeBron James has "serious reservations" about whether he can take on the presidency of the union, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who nonetheless supports the MVP's candidacy, even as sources describe James as unlikely to take the job.
The Magic didn't strike a buyout agreement before they waived Al Harrington today, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel confirms. That means the team is stuck paying the guaranteed portion of his contract, minus whatever it can recoup via set-off rights.
Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott wants to see the end of the "one-and-done" rule for NBA draft eligibility, and Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com wonders if incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver will make a push for change on that front.

Latest On Ivan Johnson

August 2nd, 2013 at 4:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent forward Ivan Johnson has been engaged in preliminary talks with six NBA teams, a source close to the player told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. However, Haynes is told that there isn't anything imminent at this point with Greg Oden, Lamar Odom, and Antawn Jamison still available on the open market.

We learned yesterday that the Knicks are among the clubs interested in the former Hawk and the two sides are discussing a potential deal. The 29-year-old boasts a career 51.7% shooting percentage with averages of 6.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 0.8 SPG in 15.8 minutes per contest. In addition to two NBA seasons with the Hawks, the power forward has also had stops in the D-League and in Korea.

Ivan Johnson