Tag: Alize Johnson

Celtics reportedly working out forward Alize Johnson

Te Celtics apparently looking to get creative with finding more depth with their limited spending power.

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The Celtics are getting creative with their search for roster depth given their limited spending power below the league’s new second apron and the penalties it brings.

“The Boston Celtics are bringing in forward Alize Johnson for a workout this week,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported.

The former San Antonio Spurs power forward is an older prospect. The 27-year-old stands 6-foot-7 and has career averages of 2.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

“The five-year NBA veteran is considered a high-motor player and rebounder,” Scotto wrote.

An absence of an outside shot has limited the onetime Missouri State player in the NBA, but his defensive skills could prove helpful to Boston off the bench.

There may be a bit of a hidden passing game and a jumper to unlock as well. Brief stints at the G League level and in college suggested the Williamsport native can hit treys when comfortable. Johnson also averaged 2.4 assists per game while with Mississippi State.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Chicago Bulls sign Alize Johnson, Matt Thomas and Stanley Johnson

The Bulls add a trio free agents to their roster as training camp approaches.

The Chicago Bulls continue to add to their roster as the offseason comes to a close.

The Bulls have signed forward Alize Johnson, guard Matt Thomas, and forward Stanley Johnson to help sure up their bench depth.

Alize Johnson signed a two-year deal with the Bulls following being waived by the Brooklyn Nets after the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge, first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Johnson, who averaged 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 18 games with the Nets last season, provides much-needed depth in the front court for Chicago as an above average rebounder who plays with great energy.

Matt Thomas, who spent time with the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz last season, brings some 3-point shooting depth to the end of the Bulls bench as a career 41.3% shooter from downtown.

First reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Stanley Johnson, the former No. 8 pick of the 2015 NBA draft, averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds last season in 61 games with the Toronto Raptors and brings end of the bench depth on the wing for the Bulls.

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Report: Alize Johnson clears waivers and joins Chicago Bulls on two-year deal

Alize Johnson signs a two-year deal with the Chicago Bulls.

With a crowded frontcourt, the Brooklyn Nets resorted to waiving one of the team’s best young players in Alize Johnson. After clearing waivers on Monday, the former Net signed with the Chicago Bulls on a two-year deal worth $3.6M according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The 25-year-old averaged 5.2 PPG and 5 RPG on 59% shooting for Brooklyn in 10.5 MPG. Johnson will be joining an emerging Bulls team with sights on a playoff berth next season. After acquiring DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso this roster can certainly make a lot of noise in the East. Securing the rising 25-year-old gives them the power forward they were looking for. Chicago was in “need for power forward depth,” said Wojnarowski.

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Sean Marks praises DeAndre Jordan after two seasons with the Nets

Nets GM Sean Marks had a special message for DeAndre Jordan after trading him.

It has been a hectic week for the Brooklyn Nets. They managed to sign two of the best veterans available in free agency in Paul Millsap and LaMarcus Aldridge, but it came with a cost. The Nets waived Alize Johnson and traded away DeAndre Jordan to acquire Sekou Doumbouya and Jahlil Okafor. Brooklyn also included four draft picks in the exchange.

Trading Jordan was a big move considering that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant convinced the big man to join them on the Nets in that 2019 free agency window. However, times have changed. With rumors stirring up for weeks on the 33-year-old possibly being traded, things finally came into fruition.

In the former Texas A&M product’s two seasons in Brooklyn, he averaged 7.9 PPG along with 8.7 RPG. Upon his departure, Nets GM Sean Marks had this to say:

“We appreciate everything DeAndre (Jordan) has contributed to our organization over the past two seasons both on and off the court and wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

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Report: Nets sign LaMarcus Aldridge and waive Alize Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets officially sign LaMarcus Aldridge, but Alize Johnson is set to be waived.

It’s all coming together for Nets GM Sean Marks and the Brooklyn Nets. The day after the team signed four-time All-Star Paul Millsap, they are now welcoming back seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. It will be on a one-year deal worth up to $2.6M per Adrian Wojnarowski. In the span of 48 hours, Brooklyn just upped the ante in their frontcourt.

In Aldridge’s five games with the Nets last season, he averaged 12.8 PPG in 26 MPG. He was also very efficient too, going 52% from the field and 80% from three. The veteran big man was even a presence in the interior, making an instant impact, averaging 2.2 BPG. Of course, his time with Brooklyn was cut short due to health precautions concerning an irregular heartbeat.

This time around, Aldridge has been blessed with a chance to return to basketball after being medically cleared. His quest to try to win that ring he has so desperately coveted for 15 seasons playing in the league has officially arrived. At what cost though? Well, the cost of Alize Johnson’s time with the Nets.

Johnson, who made a name for himself last season for Brooklyn, has been waived to open up a roster spot for the 36-year-old veteran. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets will allow the 25-year-old to play elsewhere because of how loaded they are at the forward position.

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Nets Summer League: Player grades for the Nets’ young prospects

Check out the Summer League ratings for the top Nets players in Las Vegas.

Brooklyn has a lot to look forward to following their 3-2 outing in Las Vegas. Nets GM Sean Marks’ selection of Cameron Thomas is looking like one of the biggest steal of this year’s draft. Day’Ron Sharpe and Kessler Edwards also had strong performances. Their Summer League experience showed us all we needed to know about them.

A few of Brooklyn’s more experienced young players, namely Alize Johnson and Quinndary Weatherspoon, each had standout games in Vegas. With the 2021 Summer League in the books, let’s take a look at some of the grades for the top Nets players from the campaign.

Nets Summer League: Brooklyn improves to 3-1 with win over Spurs

Brooklyn had another Summer League thriller go down to the wire.

The Nets’ past two games went down to the wire against the Bucks and the Wizards. Head coach Jordan Ott would have loved to avoid that for once by picking up a comfortable win. Unfortunately for him, the Nets found themselves down by as many as 16 in the first quarter against the Spurs on Sunday.

Offense was hard to come by in the first period for Brooklyn by only scoring 20 points. It was the complete opposite for the Spurs, particularly for Tre Jones and Joshua Primo. The duo had their team in cruise control with the lead. San Antonio as a whole had a 30-point outburst in the first quarter. Luckily for the Nets, Cameron Thomas was finally able to put his mark on the game. Thomas went for 12 points in the second period alone to finish the half with 14 points. The Nets were in striking distance, down five.

In the third quarter, Brooklyn kept their foot on the gas. Thomas could not be contained and the Nets finally figured the Spurs out defensively. They were able to hold San Antonio to 23 points in the third period. Thanks to the defensive effort, the Nets captured their first lead of the game at 75-74 before the start of the fourth.

It was deja vu for Jordan Ott and his team. They were going tit for tat with the Spurs to decide who was leaving the building with the win. Again, it was Cameron Thomas who stepped up in the clutch. He made shot after shot for the Nets on his way to 36 points on 11-for-25 shooting. Thomas’ accurate free throw shooting and shot making down the stretch was enough to give Brooklyn the 104-100 win. Alize Johnson (13 PTS, 14 REBS) finished the contest with a double-double too, showing shades of his debut performance with the Nets a few months ago.

After the game, Thomas was asked how he’s able to continue stepping up in pressure situations. His response:

“Confidence. That’s my best friend right there.”

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Alize Johnson is looking unstoppable in an offseason pick up game

Alize Johnson is seen dominating in a pick up game with Carmelo Anthony and J.Cole.

Nets forward Alize Johnson took the NBA by storm this season. Johnson was finding himself in the G League from February-March playing for the Raptors 905. Averages of 16.6 PPG and 13.5 RPG put him on the radar for teams on his way to getting selected for the All G League second team. It was Nets GM Sean Marks who sniffed him out after that campaign, signing him to a 10-day contract.

Johnson showed his worth with every minute, making it easy for the organization and Nets fans to fall in love with him. He then earned himself a second 10-day contract and the 25-year-old didn’t disappoint again. Marks was left with no choice but to sign him to a three year deal worth up to $4.1 million. Johnson’s highlight of the season was his masterpiece versus the Indiana Pacers on April 29. He was an absolute menace, becoming the third player in Nets franchise history to record 20 points and 21 rebounds. Johnson tapped into his inner Dennis Rodman.

The Pennsylvania native’s future is bright and it’s only getting better from here. Last week, he was seen playing in a pick up game with J.Cole and Carmelo Anthony. Johnson was getting busy, looking almost unstoppable for anyone guarding him:

Nets fans are in for a treat next season.

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Alize Johnson has signed a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets

Rejoice: Alize Johnson has signed a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets.

It was announced on Sunday morning that Alize Johnson, the player who scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his debut against the league best Utah Jazz, has signed a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets. Prior to getting signed long term, Johnson agreed to two 10 day contracts before the Nets finally decided to add the youngster to the roster.

Alize Johnson touched on his mentality during the press conference on Saturday morning. He said he’s out there “fighting” as if it’s going to be his last game. It was quite easy for him too because the team helped make him feel “comfortable” he said. To put the icing on the cake, players on the team also help him improve his game: “Kyrie (Irving) has been really helping me offensively.”

Johnson now has a new home and it resides in Brooklyn thanks to his hard work.

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Report: Rockets interested in G League wing Alize Johnson

The Raptors, Magic, Rockets, Spurs, and Suns have all expressed interest in signing Johnson, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.

The Houston Rockets are among several NBA teams to have expressed interest in signing Alize Johnson following his performance at the G League bubble, per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.

Johnson averaged 16.6 points (57.0% FG), 13.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 32.0 minutes per game with Toronto’s developmental affiliate.

O’Connor has more:

Johnson is a 6-foot-7 wing who was drafted 50th in 2018 by the Pacers and has played in only 31 NBA games. He’s a full-throttle rebounder and defender with the versatility to defend both quicker and stronger players, meaning he could play on the wing alongside a true big or in the frontcourt in switch-heavy lineups. On offense, the 24-year-old is averaging 16.6 points and 4.2 assists while posting career highs in scoring efficiency and assist-turnover ratio.

A league source says in addition to the Raptors, the Magic, Rockets, Spurs, and Suns have also expressed interest in signing Johnson.

Houston does have an open roster spot following the recent release of DeMarcus Cousins, which could be used to sign Johnson. Or, they could potentially convert rookie guard Mason Jones or young big man Justin Patton from a two-way contract to a standard contract, and then award the vacated two-way slot to Johnson. All of those scenarios, though, are dependent on Johnson potentially choosing the Rockets over what appears to be a long list of suitors around the league.

For now, Johnson appears set to play for Raptors 905 in this week’s single-elimination playoffs at the G League bubble.

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