If re-signed, James Johnson should play more at center next season

James Johnson wants to return to the Miami Heat next season and, if he does, he could see more time playing as a small-ball center.

James Johnson had the best season of his career and should have been a finalist for Most Improved Player of the Year (but he isn’t). Although he wasn’t a starter for the Miami Heat for most of the season, Johnson still averaged 12.8 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 1.1 blocks per game, and 1.0 steals per game.

Johnson will be a free agent this summer, and while he’s said he wants to return to Miami, that’s no guarantee. Still, if the Heat are able to re-sign the versatile forward, Johnson and the team should be able to build on his best career season. One way to do that could be exploring playing him more at center.

What makes Johnson special is his versatility. He’s a power forward who can handle to ball like a guard and protect the rim well enough to play center in small-ball units.

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Erik Spoelstra occasionally played Johnson at the 5 this past season. In today’s NBA, it is important to be able to go small as more and more teams look to push the pace by utilizing more athletic players at center. The Heat have experienced success in the past with small ball, playing Chris Bosh at center on two championship teams. This opened the floor for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to get to the rim.

When Johnson is playing center, it opens up space for his teammates to operate. Goran Dragic excels at getting to the rim, and is a great finisher. Having extra space will elevate his game even further, and highlight his strengths.

With Johnson being able to protect the rim, create space, and find open shooters, playing him more at center becomes a great option.

When speaking with All U Can Heat’s Wes Goldberg, Johnson expressed how playing center helps the team.

"I think it helps our team in different aspects. It helps us get to second side, it helps us get to different options. Dribble hand offs, chases and things like that. At the end of the day, I’m passing it and setting a screen. These guys are coming off and hitting the shots."

Next: Free agent replacements for James Johnson

Spoelstra experimented with playing Johnson at center last season. According to basketball-reference.com, he played center 9% of the time he was on the floor. Johnson will be a free agent, but so will Willie Reed, who backed up Hassan Whiteside most of the year. Miami may only be able to sign one of them back and, if Johnson returns, they’d be wise to make Johnson the point center a more regular thing.