Thunderous Intentions
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Joe Johnson Would Be an Upgrade for Thunder

By Sean Reece

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Joe Johnson has made it know that he would like to join a championship contender when he enters free agency next summer, as he told reporters in early December:

"“Winning. Winning is going to be important to me. I’ve made enough money, man, throughout my career. So, yeah, winning will definitely be top priority for me.”"

Teams that came to mind for many NBA fans are the Cavaliers, Spurs and Warriors. However, those three teams already have proven shooting guards, with Iman Shumpert, Danny Green and Klay Thompson all having re-signed with their respective teams. Once you take all of those factors into account, one team comes to mind: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Johnson would be a perfect fit for a Thunder squad that is currently ranked third in the Western Conference standings. The seven-time All-Star is having a down year for the woeful Brooklyn Nets, averaging only 11.4 points per game. Still, he definitely represents an upgrade over Oklahoma City’s current options, Dion Waiters or Andre Roberson.

Roberson has been the starter this year for the Thunder. He has improved a bit offensively, but his defense is still suspect, prone to giving up the occasional scoring explosion. As for Waiters, if we look past his frequent mistakes, he is having a decent season as a bench player, averaging almost 11 points per game.

Although Waiters is much younger than Johnson (by a full decade, at just 24), it is a contract year for both players. With the NBA salary cap expected to skyrocket next season, Waiters will be looking for a semi big contract, even reportedly seeking a max-level deal. If the Thunder could sign Johnson Waiters would be immediately expendable. Oklahoma City could let Waiters simply walk away to test the free agent market or the team could possibly explore a sign-and-trade option, perhaps acquiring a draft pick in the process.

Johnson brings great leadership and experience to a young Thunder team who is desperate for a championship. Kevin Durant‘s contract looms large in the minds of Thunder fans and general manager Sam Presti, who’s shown he’s willing to do everything possible to help this team get a ring and retain Durant.

OKC fans may worry about current sharpshooter Anthony Morrow‘s playing time being even more limited. If Presti could acquire Johnson by trading away Waiters, then Morrow could still be kept as another available offensive option. But if Johnson and Waiters were both somehow signed (in favor of keeping both youth and proven excellence) then Morrow would likely be shopped; with just one year left on his contract, he’d be considered a very valuable trade chip.

Experience is a big part of the NBA game, and Johnson has tons of it. He can be a Caron Butler-type of player, able to come in and help with a big playoff push. Butler even started during the 2013-14 playoffs because Roberson had become such a liability.

Overall, Joe Johnson would be the perfect fit for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He would get to play with two of the best players in the game (in Durant and Russell Westbrook), so some of the pressure to score would come off his shoulders; he’d be invigorated by the reduced role and the chance to actually contend for a title. And, of course, his great experience would lead to a mentoring role for the younger guys on the team.

The Thunder’s offseason will be the most pivotal point in franchise history and retaining Durant is obviously the top priority. But there are other holes to fill and the the inconsistent shooting guard position remains one of the team’s biggest questions. If Oklahoma City wants to win a championship this year, then Johnson might be the answer that leads to the NBA title.

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