Amir Johnson A 'Big Catch' For Celtics

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2015/07/amir_johnson_big_catch_for_celtics



Amir Johnson big catch for Celtics






Photo by: AP photo
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Amir Johnson, now a Celtic, blocks a shot by Marcus Smart during a game last season.

Thursday, July 2, 2015 PrintEmail1 Comments
By:  Steve Bulpett


Blakely: Celtics signing Amir Johnson ‘a great deal for both sides’


It may be more of a ripple than a splash in relation to some of the names on the market, but the Celtics have filled a need by reaching agreement on a two-year, $24 million contract with free agent forward Amir Johnson.

In addition, the Celts will be retaining the services of Jonas Jerebko, who impressed here last season after being from Detroit at the trade deadline. Jerebko, who averaged 7.1 points in 18.2 minutes, will get a modest, by NBA standards, $10 million over the next two years.

The Celtics completed their day late last night by making a deal to keep restricted free agent Jae Crowder in the fold. The 6-foot-7 wing blossomed after being acquired in the Rajon Rondo deal last December, averaging 9.5 points in 24.2 minutes with an even more impressive performance on the defensive end.

Crowder and the C’s agreed to a straight five-year, $35 million contract, fully guaranteed with no opt-outs for either side.

The deals for Johnson and Jerebko are different. As a measure of the importance the Celtics are placing on future flexibility, sources told the Herald that the second year on both deals will be non-guaranteed.

The 6-9 Johnson is a 10-year veteran at the age of 28 (part of the last draft class allowed to come directly from high school to the NBA), and while he’s had some ankle issues, Johnson could provide the kind of defense at the rim Brad Stevens has been searching for.

Johnson also is a prince among the advanced stat set, with things like “real plus-minus” numbers adding up to more than his 9.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game for the Raptors this past season.

From all the free agent agreements and other transactions being completed on this first day of free agent negotiation, it may have seemed for a while that the Celtics were quietly watching the world go by. According to league sources, however, nothing was further from the truth.

The Celts did, in fact, make dutiful pitches to representatives of the top free agents, knowing full well most are staying in place and that LaMarcus Aldridge is staying out west.

Word was strong in the late morning that talks had heated up between the Celts and Johnson, with sources stating that, of the free agents with whom the club is involved, he was the most likely to land here.

Sources from other teams and within the player rep community say the C’s were also in play for Tobias Harris and Corey Brewer, but as of late last night, those pursuits have ended.

The Celts had a certain financial parameter in mind for Harris, and when it became clear that Orlando was willing to pay big to match any offer for the restricted free agent, they were out of the running.

The agreement with Crowder essentially removed the Celts’ interest in Brewer.

It is interesting to note that, from all accounts, the Celtics have had no contact at all with several other free agents with whom they’ve been linked in media reports.

In some of these cases, it’s said to be because they are not particularly fond of the player’s game, while in others it’s because they’ve become aware the player is seeking more than they are willing to spend — and may get it elsewhere in the open market.

Whatever the reason, the Celts have not reached out to Greg Monroe, Gerald Green or Robin Lopez since the opening of the free agent negotiating period.

Included on the list of those most likely to remain with their clubs was Kevin Love, and the All-Star forward announced this afternoon that he is, indeed, re-signing with the Cavaliers (reportedly for five years and $110 million). But three sources insist there was more mutual interest between Love and the Celts than one might expect.

“Look, Kevin’s first choice is to stay with Cleveland, and I have no doubt that’s going to get worked out,” one person with knowledge of the situation said before Love’s announcement. “But I think Kevin’s liked Boston for a while as a place to play. If their roster was more ready to win right now, maybe there’s a chance we’re having a different conversation. And maybe he’d be going back to Cleveland no matter what. All I know is that a lot of teams wanted in on him, and Boston was one of the only ones he spoke to.”

Said another, “I’m told Danny (Ainge) had some very good talks with Kevin and his people, but at the end of the day, if you miss by an inch or miss by a mile, the result’s still the same.”

And the result means the Celtics still have a lot of work to do.

Closer to home with their own free agents, after dealing with Crowder and Jerebko, the Celtics apparently are comfortable letting things play out.

Brandon Bass is unrestricted, and while the club may not have closed the door on the idea of him returning, it is most likely he winds up elsewhere. Gigi Datome is looking at other NBA options and very possibly could entertain offers to play again in Europe.

Phil Pressey is in a rather precarious position. The Celtics have until July 15 to decide whether to keep him and guarantee next year at $947,276. At present, there is no space for him on the roster, but the club likes him, and because that roster situation is changeable, it will wait as long as it can to make a decision.



bob
MY NOTE: Shit. No Robin Lopez.

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