I really liked what I saw from him last year. He would be a great piece to add particularly if wesley is dealt. anyone have any news on his status - whether likely to return to denver or available, and if so at what cost?
No news.....but if you can get him for the 1.5 veterens exception, he would be good player off the bench. Younger, athletic player who can play SG or SF. Go google some denver newspapers and check out their sports sections and see if they have anything on him
I tried looking up the status of Johnson but have basically seen nothing. I've read that Denver wants to resign Greg Buckner but he wants more than half the MLE. Also heard they are hot & heavy for Mobley or Jaric or Finley. Obvioulsy they want to upgrade their SG. They also drafted Hodges. With all that I don't see any room for Johnson unless they use their LLE or a minimum contract. Realistically I think they will land Mobley, Jaric or Finley and have Hodges as the backup. They will let Buckner & Johnson go. I think Johnson can be had for less than the LLE (1.7M). He would be a good backup 2/3. Looks like he has good defense
I like the idea of Johnson. He would be a good cheap signing at a position of need a la Sura/Ward last summer.
I liked him last year too......he is fully recovered...I hope the Rockets learn their lesson and take a chance on Jay Williams as well. DD
DerMarr for that exception is not very likely. The Vet Minimum has a max length of 2 years and is based upon the # of years a player has been in the league. A 4 year vet last season received a Yr 1 salary of $745k.
http://denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_2849827 D.J. wants to stay Johnson said he told his agent, Dan Fegan, he would prefer to re-sign with Denver. The 6-foot-9, 201-pounder averaged 7.1 points and started 40 games last season. Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe talked to Fegan during the weekend but made no offer. "I'm getting a lot of interest from the Nuggets," Johnson said. "I would love to be a Nugget. I know they're going to look at other guys. I just want to be in a position where I'm on the floor." Denver drafted shooting guard Julius Hodge last month and is considering several free agents, as well as Buckner and Johnson. Johnson said he wouldn't be bothered by a shooting-guard-by-committee scenario like the team used last season. "I had a chance to play last (season)," Johnson said. "I'm more worried about the bigger- name guys." Vandeweghe said he has told Buckner's agent, "We want him back." Buckner wants to be back, but he isn't sure the Nuggets want him and Johnson. "I don't see them keeping both of us," Buckner said. "It just depends on what Kiki and (coach) George Karl wants."
if the rockets want to sign these guys, they better do something with the Charlie Wards of the world, so there are roster spots available
He was the agent for Moochie Norris, Shandon Anderson, and most notably, Hakeem in that one fairly tumultuous offseason. AKA, The Devil.
Well, if Denver goes in another direction, his client will only want a contract, any contract. A 2 year LLE contract is all we can offer anyway. Assuming we use the MLE.
Memories are short if/when a player is wanted. However, it's been Buckner's name linked, at least loosely, to Rox. And both Buckner and DJ appear to believe one will be back, one gone (link available, IIRC, today's Denver Post, if one wants to pursue and peruse).
Johnson would be a great pickup for the LLE or the vet's minimum. He could come off the bench and give T-mac a good 10 mins of rest. This way T-mac is more fresh towards the end of the season and we have a guy who can play the SG or SF position off the bench. Johnson has a decent shot and can play defense so I think he would fit in nicely in the Rockets rotation. Just imagine if we had him guarding Finley/Stackhouse in the playoffs. No way would those guys have been able to score as much on him as they did on Wesley/Barry.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3918048,00.html Way at the bottom: "Vandeweghe met with agent Dan Fegan, whose clients include Nuggets unrestricted free agent DerMarr Johnson and Sanchez. Fegan said he is hopeful Johnson will re-sign with Denver. "
