“I was in shock”, Johnson told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. That’s how a guy with all of 73 career National Basketball Association appearances who averaged 8.7 points per game past year wound up in line to be the Heat’s third-highest-paid player in the fall of 2018 … even though, thanks to the presence of impressive rising sophomore Josh Richardson and the addition of veteran shooting guard Dion Waiters, it’s no sure thing that he’s even going to be Miami’s starter at the two come opening night.
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So what happened when free agency opened up and the Brooklyn Nets threw a four-year, $50 million offer out there?
Perhaps Johnson’s illness was rooted in the fact that he had prepared himself to move to Brooklyn only for the Heat to disrupt his plans by matching the Nets’ generous offer.
Johnson also said he had a hard time dealing with the $50 million offer sheet he got from the Nets.He chose the Nets over the Bulls, Hornets and Kings, who reportedly offered him $53 million.
“I was like nearly 100 percent sure I was going to end up in Brooklyn”, Johnson said Monday, according to Winderman. It was only a matter of an hour and a half where I had to make the decision of either signing an offer sheet that I kind of committed to or just not signing and restructure a new deal.
“Micky said, ‘You’re not poaching any of my guys, ‘ ” team president Pat Riley said last week. He loves Tyler. He’s a young piece and part of our future. With center Hassan Whiteside boasting a max-deal and 2015 first round pick Justise Winslow set to assume a bigger role alongside Johnson, Miami has a young core to build around. His defense and athleticism will serve the Heat well, and he’ll receive more playing time to fill the void that Dwyane Wade’s departure leaves. “So I’m not really anxious about any pressure”. “I think me and Josh are going to have a good opportunity to play both guard spots”.
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Why would Johnson be anxious? It wasn’t an easy process for me, and I know it wasn’t an easy process for them. “And I’m excited to get back to work”.
