Toronto Raptors Rumors: Joe Johnson Receiving Interest from Toronto

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly interested in signing Joe Johnson once he clears waivers, but would he be a good fit for the roster?

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Leading up to the recently trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors were aggressively looking for ways to improve the roster. Unfortunately for Masai Ujiri and the front office, the chance to close the talent gap on the Cleveland Cavaliers never materialized.

However, while standing pat wasn’t necessarily the worst thing to do, there may still be an opportunity to strengthen the team. As reported by Marc Stein of ESPN, the Brooklyn Nets have waived Joe Johnson, after agreeing to buy out the remainder of his six-year contract.

Johnson will clear waivers at 5 pm on Saturday, at which point the rest of the league will be able to contact him with any offers. As per the veteran minimum, he is expected to earn around $500,000, with the timing of his release from the Nets also making him playoff-eligible for whoever he joins.

According to Stein, the Raptors are apparently interested in acquiring the former 10th overall draft pick. This leads to the question of if he is someone who would be a good addition to the team?

Raptors fans will probably still remember the player who had 32 and 29-point performances in the seven-game playoff thriller against the Nets a couple of seasons ago. However, Johnson is not quite the same threat anymore.

Jan 6, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets small forward Joe Johnson (7) shoots a three point shot over Toronto Raptors power forward James Johnson (3) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. The Raptors defeated the Nets 91-74. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

In fact, the 34-year old is on course for his worst scoring average in 13 seasons. Having said that, he has been averaging 13.4 points per game since the start of 2016, and is having a career-year at the charity stripe.

In any event, Johnson could prove to be a valuable pickup for the Raptors, providing plenty of experience once the playoffs come around. Keep in mind he is also still good for four boards and four assists per game, right around his career average.

Assuming Toronto does make a move for the Little Rock, Arkansas native, they will face some stiff competition from other contending teams. According to Stein, he has also grabbed the attention of the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma Thunder and his previous team, the Atlanta Hawks.

Unfortunately for the Raptors, their biggest challenge will probably come from the Cavaliers, who are reportedly Johnson’s first choice. In that respect, if he ends up going to Ohio, it will represent a double blow to Dwane Casey’s team.

Next: Potential buyout targets for the Raptors

Would you be interested in seeing Joe Johnson in a Raptors uniform? Would he be a good fit for the team? Let us know in the comments section below.

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