If you didn’t have time to get a James Johnson jersey while he was on the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s forgivable.
Johnson was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Ricky Rubio deal. He was part of the Thunder for about 20 minutes before he was traded again, this time in a three-team deal involving the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons.
In return for the forward, the Thunder received Trevor Ariza from the Pistons and Justin Jackson and two second-round draft picks from the Mavericks.
One of the second-round picks will be in 2023. It will be whichever is the best between the Mavericks and the Miami Heat, both of which are owned by Dallas. The other is a 2026 Mavericks pick.
LIST: FUTURE THUNDER DRAFT PICKS
Johnson, now on the Mavericks, has one year left on his contract that will pay him $15.8 million. Ariza is also on the final year of his and is owed $12.8 million. He is also a tradable wing.
Jackson is on the final year of his deal and owed $5 million. He will be a restricted free agent next offseason.
The Pistons received Delon Wright, who has two years remaining that will pay him $9 million this season and $8.5 next.
This move indirectly adds to the haul that the Thunder received in the Chris Paul trade. That deal netted them Rubio, who was shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves along with draft picks for the rights to No. 17 pick Aleksej Pokusevski and Johnson. Johnson, in turn, was traded for two players and a pair of second-rounders.
General manager Sam Presti continues to add to his collection.
