Former NBA Champion Believes Joe Johnson Fine Even If Teams Pass On Him

Joe Johnson is working out with several teams although there is no official word which NBA ballclub will offer him a contract. Even at 38, the seven-time NBA All-Star has shown he can still be deadly. He showcased all that at the Big3 tournament, winning a championship and bagging the MVP award. That performance earned him workouts with several teams.

Among the teams who held workouts with Johnson include the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and so on. The point here is that there are teams who feel he can still be of use although he is likely to be taken in as a bench player. Should that be the case, he is likely to come off the bench and be given a veteran's minimum. Much of this was covered in a previous post.

At this point in his career, earning an NBA minimum may hardly matter for Johnson. Richard Jefferson, another player who is hoping to make a comeback as well, singled out how the 10th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft has already earned over $200 million in 18 years when he spoke on SiriusXM NBA Radio. Money should be a non-issue and a return may likely be due to something else. Looking at his basketball resume, one glaringly missing is an NBA title.

Of course, Johnson may just want to return because he loves the game so much. But should one of his reason be to get an NBA ring, he may want to whittle down his choices to teams who have a serious shot at the title. From the teams that he worked out with, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks look good landing spots. Unfortunately, that decision is out of his hands. It all depends on a team's needs, particularly on the offensive end.

Jefferson believes hoop fans should not feel sorry for Johnson since he has earned more than enough already. But then again, Johnson's interest to return may be because of something more than money. It may be the drive to win an NBA title and/or be given a proper send-off to retirement.