Kofi Inkoom
The Indiana Pacers have signed veteran forward James Johnson, opting for a brief 10-day contract rather than a full-season commitment, as the team announced in a press.
Just days ago, Indiana released Johnson to free up space for the acquisition of fourth-year guard Kira Lewis, who was swiftly traded to Toronto as part of the deal for Pascal Siakam.
Following the departure of three players, including Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora, in the Siakam trade, the Pacers found themselves with two open spots on the 15-man roster, and Johnson is set to fill one of these vacancies.
Choosing a 10-day contract for Johnson provides the Pacers with flexibility as they look forward to potential trades leading up to the February 8 deadline.
Notably, the team is currently financially committed to Johnson on two fronts, as his previous contract became guaranteed when he remained on the roster past this month’s cut-down deadline, resulting in a dead money cap hit of approximately $1.4 million.
Having played for 10 different NBA teams, the 36-year-old Johnson had limited playing time during the 2023/24 season, averaging 4.8 minutes per game across five appearances. His stint with the Pacers last season included 18 games.
The Pacers will take on the Blazers in an hour and newly acquired power forward, Pascal Siakam, is expected to make his Indiana debut. Tyrese Halliburton is also active tonight.