Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Report: Heat will pick up contract of Tyler Johnson, as expected

Tyler Johnson

Miami Heat’s Tyler Johnson pumps his fist after making a three point basket during the second half of the Miami Heat’s 83-75 win over the Boston Celtics an NBA basketball game in Boston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

AP

Goran Dragic is the starting point guard in Miami. The question is who plays when he sits?

With Shabazz Napier now gone and Mario Chalmers still being shopped around, it was a forgone conclusion that the Heat would pick up the contract of point guard Tyler Johnson. They will do that soon, reports Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.

Johnson was all about energy. He came in as a spark plug off the bench and played hard — sometimes crossing the line into out of control. He shot just 41.9 percent overall (although 37 percent from three) and had too many turnovers. But you could see the potential in the former Fresno State player who spent much of last season in the D-League.

This is an easy call for the Heat, he’s the kind of player they should be developing.

To my mind so is James Ennis, who showed not only can he finish at the rim but he is a threat from three (32.6 percent). If he can develop better handles and refine his shot he’s got a place in the league. The question is do the Heat think he has that in him (and can they bring it out of him). With Justise Winslow now in the mix at the three, how big a priority is Ennis?