The Miami Heat had to make a decision about Tyler Johnson this offseason. As a restricted free agent, Johnson was offered a four-year, $50 million offer sheet by the Brooklyn Nets. Miami decided to match the offer, effectively retaining the 24-year-old guard.
Johnson, now an investment as part of Miami’s key guard core, appreciates the kind of price tag Brooklyn put on him, via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
“I could tell from the get-go that they were very interested,” Johnson said after Monday’s practice. “And they were working with me very well during contract negotiations. So, yeah, I’m very appreciative of what they did and setting that price point, for sure.”
There’s reason to be grateful. Brooklyn forced Miami’s hand to re-sign Johnson at a particular price. It tested the Heat’s value of Johnson, and they decided to put stock in him.
On the back end, Johnson’s re-signing worked well in response to Dwyane Wade’s departure, which didn’t happen until after Miami retained Johnson. Dion Waiters is now in the mix in South Beach as well. Erik Spoelstra has some different looks with his guard rotation. This offseason cemented Tyler Johnson in that rotation for the foreseeable future. He might always have the Nets to thank for setting that price point.
