Joe Johnson and his hard work in the BIG3 League has finally paid off in a solid way. Iso Joe has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons. As a result, the Pistons are going to waive Michael Beasley to make space on the roster for the BIG3 MVP. Johnson’s deal is a partially guaranteed one year deal and he will join forces with Detroit’s star-studded front-court consisting of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. However, Pistons fans are excited about the addition of Johnson for other reasons. Without further adieu, let’s get into how Iso Joe will benefit the Detroit Pistons.
How Iso Joe will Benefit the Detroit Pistons
Benefit #1 of Having Joe Johnson
This is probably obvious already, but the experience is a huge component in the NBA. Johnson has many years of experience in the NBA already under his belt. This will be a great addition to a young team trying to make the next step in contention. He is not going to be making All-Star Games like Blake Griffin or winning rebounding titles like Andre Drummond. However, he adds another dimension to the Pistons’ core. Johnson will give Detroit a second option to go to in the clutch when the team drastically needs a bucket. Now, opponents will not be able to key in on Blake Griffin alone.
They will have to also honor the veteran scoring ability of Iso Joe, but more on that in a bit. Johnson will be able to teach the young guards and wings, such as Luke Kennard and Bruce Brown, a thing or two and help them hone their shooting touch as well. After all, Johnson is a career 37.1 percent three-point shooter to go along with averaging 16 points per game for his career. Getting a seasoned veteran in Johnson and swapping him out in exchange for the erratic Michael Beasley is a low-risk, high-reward deal for the Pistons.
Benefit #2 of Having Joe Johnson
As alluded to already, Joe Johnson is a professional scorer. As a result, Detroit now has another weapon at their disposal in their offense, especially in clutch situations. Teams will no longer be able to simply double-team or put their best defender on Blake Griffin when up only by a bucket now that Iso Joe is on the roster. Johnson is a career double-figure scorer and has hit many game-winners throughout his career (whether it be with the Brooklyn Nets or the Atlanta Hawks).
He has made seven All-Star Games in his career and showed his ability in the BIG3 league as he won the MVP. Not to mention leading his team to the BIG3 title. Johnson will not be the go-to option, but he will still have his moments with the Pistons. For his career, Iso Joe possesses a field goal percentage of 44.1 percent. He also holds a free-throw percentage of 80.2 percent. As said already, the man knows how to put the ball in the basket. The numbers prove this statement. In conclusion, the Detroit Pistons were able to get a solid role player in Johnson.
How the BIG3 Could Lead to More Players Getting a Chance in the NBA
Joe Johnson is not the only former NBA player to give the BIG3 a chance. There is a multitude of other former NBA players in the league right now, such as Corey Maggette, Kenyon Martin, and Greg Oden. Granted, it took Iso Joe winning the BIG3 MVP and leading his team to the title to get a spot on a NBA roster. That is a hefty toll for players to achieve if that is what it’s going to take to get another chance in the league (maybe Carmelo Anthony could give it a shot?) Nonetheless, it appears the BIG3 really helped Johnson. His tale could just be the beginning of other success and/or redemption stories of former NBA players, or even future NBA players. Only time will tell.
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