Name: Joe Johnson
Height/weight (per Basketball-Reference.com): 6-7, 240 pounds
Career stats: 1062 G, .443 FG%/.371 3FG%/.800 FT%, 17.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 108 offensive rating, 110 defensive rating
2014-15 stats: 80 G, 34.9 MPG, .435 FG%/.359 3FG%/.801 FT%, 14.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 105 o-rating, 110 d-rating
How he was acquired: Traded by the Hawks to the Nets on July 11th, 2012 for Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams and two future draft picks (plus a first round pick swap)
2014-15 season recap: Last year was one of Johnson’s worst statistical seasons since he established himself as a top scorer in 2003 with the Phoenix Suns, as the veteran shooting guard started to show serious signs of aging and depleting talent. He still played almost every game and averaged nearly 35 minutes per contest, but the 34-year-old wasn’t the same explosive guy he used to be, and he showed it.
Joe started the year out strong in November and December–averaging over 16 points per game on over 46 percent shooting–but his efficiency faded after the new year began. That coincided with the Nets’ brutal 3-12 month of January which included a seven-game losing streak. He rebounded a bit in February as Brooklyn got back on the right track but he was wildly inconsistent as the season wound down, matching every 20-point performance with an equally disappointing sub-10-point one.
He did post respectable point (16.5 per) and rebound (7.7) numbers in the playoff series with the Hawks, but only slashed .362/.293/.792, as he missed a bunch of high-percentage shots and easy jumpers. He, like the rest of the Nets, had plenty of open and makeable attempts in that series, but he couldn’t convert, as the Nets succumbed to the younger and more able No. 1 seed.
Expected role: His role shouldn’t change too much from last season in that he’s still expected to be a reliable shot-maker and opportunity-creator in the backcourt, especially with his size. Without Deron Williams in the mix anymore–and Jarrett Jack running the point–Joe will be the go-to backcourt scorer, especially in the post. As his career has progressed, he has turned from a sharpshooter who also is capable of getting to the hoop into someone who is adept as using his frame down low and happens to knock down jumpers from time to time.
If the Nets’ offense can take advantage of this aspect of Joe’s game, it would open up threes for Bojan Bogdanovic as defenses collapse to stop Johnson while also clearing the rest of the paint for Brook and Thaddeus Young. He may not be as potent a scorer as he was with the Hawks or Suns, but Joe is still a very tough matchup for opposing defenses who can help him team score even without taking a shot.
Best-case scenario: It’s rare for older NBA veterans to go through a significant statistical decline in their mid-30s only to have a resurgence and show signs of being their former selves. Thusly, it’s irresponsible to expect the world from him but it’s realistic to think he can average 15 points and five rebounds per game with a .450/.380/.800 slashline. If he figures out how to mix together his post game with his perimeter game, he’ll be just fine.
Worst-case scenario: On the other hand, as he approaches officially being NBA-old, there’s a chance the usually durable guard–who has missed more than 10 games in a season just once in his career–starts to physically wear down and rapidly turns from starter to reserve. He’s had to deal with multiple foot issues over the past few seasons, so if those flare up again, it’ll be tough for him to score 15 points a night, which in turn would force someone like Markel Brown into the starting lineup. That would not be optimal.
General thoughts: Joe Johnson can still be a intimidating presence on the court, especially on offense, but as he gets up there in age, his effectiveness will start to wane as it already has started to in recent seasons. But, he should still have a few more good runs left, which is what the Nets are hoping for this year. If he can reverse the troubling decline from the last two or so campaigns, he can still be a reliable starter for Brooklyn, which needs him to shoulder some of the scoring load vacated by their offseason departures.
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