Skip to content

Report: Cavs 'in prime position' to sign Joe Johnson

Adam Hunger / USA TODAY Sports

Joe Johnson won't officially clear waivers until 5 p.m. Saturday, but the vultures are already circling.

With as many as seven teams reportedly in pursuit of the recently bought-out 34-year-old swingman, the Cleveland Cavaliers feel confident they are "in prime position" to be the team that signs him, ESPN's Marc Stein reports.

The defending Eastern Conference champs have a relatively comfortable cushion atop the conference, but have been ardent in their desire to make upgrades on the margins wherever possible. At last week's trade deadline, they flipped lifetime Cavalier Anderson Varejao and a future first-round pick for stretch-four Channing Frye, and they seem intent on acquiring more shooting.

Johnson is in the midst of his least productive season in over a decade, but the seven-time All-Star remains a dangerous outside shooter, canning 37.1 percent of his 3-point attempts on the year. With J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert's play often waxing and waning from one quarter to the next, Johnson would offer the Cavs a sorely needed measure of consistency on the wing alongside or behind LeBron James.

That said, Johnson is expected to take a couple days to mull over offers from the many interested parties, and his former team, the Atlanta Hawks, are planning to make a "determined push" to bring him back, according to Stein.

Johnson averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 57 games this season for the Brooklyn Nets, before securing a buyout Thursday.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox