James Johnson has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Indiana Pacers, but it seems as though his run with the team is over.
Recently, Pacers GM Chad Buchanan made it clear that, while the 38-year-old is interested in continuing his playing career next season, it will be "challenging to find a spot" for him (h/t the Setting the Pace podcast).
"I just talked to James two days ago, actually, and he wants to keep playing," Buchanan said. "I mean, give him credit, he's embraced his role and has been outstanding for our team the last couple years. He's like a family member to all of us...whether there's a roster spot for James, obviously, Tyrese's injury creates a butterfly effect on a lot of things with what we have to plan on and how the roster fits together. Right now, it's going to be challenging to find a spot for James as much as we want him back."
Though he has been with the Pacers over the last few seasons, Johnson has not made his presence felt too much on the court. During his time with the team, he has appeared in just 39 games, averaging just 6.3 minutes. However, the Wyoming native has made an impact on the team and the Pacers' fanbase due to what he brings off the court. He has taken on an enforcer-type role and has been a big mentor in the locker room.
As it stands, it seems that Johnson's time in Indiana has ended. However, a lot of crazier things have happened, and it would not be much of a shock if he makes his return to the team before officially calling it a career.
Re-signing James Johnson might not make sense anyway
Johnson is a fan-favorite in Indiana, and that likely will never change. However, like Buchanan mentioned in the podcast, the Pacers' timeline has changed drastically with Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury. Furthermore, the team still needs to figure out how to replace Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this offseason.
Ahead of what is looking like a gap year, the Pacers are most likely going to rely a big more heavily on their young players to see who sticks out as long-term contributors. This includes guys like Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Isaiah Jackson, and Johnny Furphy. All these players are likely to have an expanded role next season, and how they perform may change the long-term outlook of Indiana's roster.
Furthermore, while not impossible, it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Pacers to be legitimate title contenders next year. They still have a talented team even without Haliburton and Turner. Plus, they are in a weaker Eastern Conference. Even so, they have way too many questions that need answers, and they are likely going to go through their rough patches next season. Keeping Johnson on the team, especially if it means having to move on from somebody who can make more of an impact on the court, might not be in the Pacers' best interest. This is true no matter how the fans and organization feel about him.
Johnson can still provide value, even if it is strictly for off-the-court reasons. Because of this, he might continue to have a role in the NBA for the foreseeable future. However, as it stands, it does not sound like his future is in Indiana.