20 free agents that could join Ricky Rubio (and Gordon Hayward) with the Utah Jazz
By Ryan Aston
James Johnson
James Johnson has been one of the league’s sneaky good players for some time. However, he took his game to a new level last season for a Miami Heat team that just missed out on making the playoffs. In 76 games, he averaged nearly 13 points and five rebounds and four assists per contest, adding a block and a steal for good measure.
He also added the three-point shot to his arsenal. After making just 97 shots from behind the arc over his first seven years in the league, he knocked down 87 in 2016-17 and was a 34-percent three-point shooter. The Jazz experienced his improvement first hand when Johnson lit them up for 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting in December.
Johnson would be a solid get for the Jazz. He can swing between the three and the four spot, he’s a high-energy, hustle player who will give you his best effort on defense and still has room to grow as an offensive player. Even at age 30.
The Jazz were high on him in the past and may look his way again. However, he’ll demand a much larger salary than the $4 million he made last season.