Joe Johnson Needs To Be On The Radar
By Keith Rivas
Joe Johnson is the NBA veteran the Clippers need to get their hands on.
Right now, the Los Angeles Clippers aren’t in the list of top contenders to end up with Joe Johnson in their lineup — instead, there’s currently Oklahoma City, Miami, and Cleveland running the mill.
The fact that they aren’t even at the top of his priority board should show that the Clippers need to work on attracting free agents like him in case of situations such as this late in the season.
Los Angeles has already shown they don’t need the big man power down low that they originally thought, and have instead resorting to being more elite from the three point stripe.
If Johnson ended up with the Clippers, he would become another heavy weight in Doc Rivers‘ arsenal.
As this report from SB Nation’s Lucas Hann details, outside shooting is the key for Los Angeles to have any chance at the Western Conference crown.
Johnson is a buyout player and, if history is any indication, the Clippers have that to their advantage as well.
But so far it seems like they would rather wait, watch, and maybe even let him slide.
One big reason this passive attitude could come back to seriously haunt them is the fact that, if he did go to the Thunder, the best the team could finish is where they currently stand at fourth place.
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Yikes.
There have been times this season where the Clippers looked like their surge would be legitimate enough to surpass Oklahoma City, but right when it looks like the tables are ready to turn, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant catch fire like nobody’s business.
The reason Johnson didn’t work out in Brooklyn seemed to have to do a lot with the attitude of the team. Should he come to Los Angeles, his mindset would fit in perfectly with what the team expects to see come this post-season.
A 14-year veteran, Johnson is averaging 11 points, four assists, and four rebounds this season — numbers that could easily help the Clippers pad the stat box and give them a cushion against the Western Conference juggernauts.
But it probably won’t come to fruition because Johnson already has his eyes set elsewhere.
Los Angeles did make a good move recently, though, by shipping Lance Stephenson out of town to the Grizzlies in return for Jeff Green.
While Green’s actual production has yet to be seen, he could become one of the key guys for them down the stretch.
Lastly, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick can only do so much.
Yes, their point of attack has to be from their ability to be mobile and quick with the ball, especially in transition, but if it’s unorganized chaos on the floor then the Clippers just aren’t helping themselves.
Johnson brings a calm and collective presence, especially in situations with little time left and the game on the line.
Next: Byron Scott's Fractured Relationship With Front Office
Hopefully the Clippers use this as a learning experience.