Golden State Warriors: Joe Johnson should be consider a late-season buyout candidate

The Golden State Warriors have 14 players locked up and, for now, can only afford that many. That said, late-season buyout targets will be their best friend.

There’s no denying that this Golden State Warriors’ team isn’t like the ones composed in past years. It is, like the others, still top-heavy. However, it’s so top-heavy that the team cannot even sign another veteran’s minimum contract before hitting the NBA’s hard cap.

With the addition of D’Angelo Russell, the Warriors will have three players on a max deal this season and four when Green’s extension kicks in within the next few seasons. Needless to say, the team’s offseason has been frugal following those agreements.

As for the veteran’s minimum, what many people don’t know is that, as the season progresses, the hard cap prorates that contract down to a manageable amount. The Warriors need to monitoring when they can add that 15th player, and it could be a season-changing addition.

Joe Johnson should be considered a prime target for the Warriors.

Johnson is currently under contract with the Pistons, but given their roster, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him bought out if things go south. Just because of Blake Griffin, the Pistons may be able to keep hope alive, though, so whether Johnson will be available is up in the air.

Currently, Stephen Curry, 31, is the team’s veteran leader, and Curry has already noted how different the locker room and feel of the team is without Andre Iguodala, who was the second unit’s undisputed leader last season.

The Warriors should, without a doubt, sign a player like Joakim Noah, Jamal Crawford or Joe Johnson. However, they’ll have to be available towards the end of the season when the Dubs are preparing for their sixth straight Finals run.

As for Johnson, he is coming off an MVP stint in the Big 3 and is the first player to appear in the league and re-join the NBA. Johnson’s last performance in the NBA came during the 2017-2018 season. He didn’t play last season.

At one point in his career, Johnson averaged over 25 points, four rebounds, and four assists. He was dominant, and towards the back half of his career, he took on a more distributive role. Now, for Golden State, he may be a solid backup point guard, a position the team is thin at.

For now, it’s unlikely he’s bought out. We don’t know what will happen in Detroit this season, but we do know that they obviously didn’t sign him to have plans of buying him out.