Joe Johnson plans to sign with the Houston Rockets for the remainder of the season once his buyout with the Sacramento Kings is completed Monday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Johnson was sent from the Utah Jazz to the Kings as part of a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers made on the day of the trade deadline.
With the signing of Johnson, the Rockets will add even more offensive firepower to their roster as they set their sights on a potential showdown with the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs. Houston has already defeated the Warriors twice in three matchups this season.
Johnson is averaging 7.3 points per game this season (as well as 3.3 rebounds), the lowest total since his rookie campaign in 2001 when he posted an average of 6.3 PPG. At 36, Johnson isn't close to the player he once was, but he's still capable of providing an offensive punch in a pinch.
The only possible cause for concern with Johnson is his 27.4 percentage from beyond the arc, especially for a team that centers their game around the three-point shot. However, the trade for Chris Paul this past offseason hinted at the Rockets' desire to have a formidable midrange game, and Johnson could help Houston strengthen that part of their offense.Â
