Miami Heat Column: Tyler Johnson was clouded by unfair expectations
By Wes Goldberg
The Tyler Johnson stat era in Miami
Johnson played well in the first year of his bloated contract, averaging a career-high in points (13.7), rebounds (4.0) and assists (3.2), but plateaued after that. Last season, he failed to make the most of his opportunity starting in place of an injured Dion Waiters, but for this season, Johnson was more of a light switch than a spark off the bench–on and off.
A day before the trade deadline, the Heat dealt Johnson and Wayne Ellington to the Phoenix Suns for forward Ryan Anderson. Not because he was bad–let’s get this out of the way: Johnson is a much more impactful player than Anderson–but because he was expensive.
In professional sports, players are told by agents, family members, friends, and their own common sense, to go get that money. Johnson wasn’t wrong to accept Brooklyn’s winning lotto ticket of an offer sheet. The problem was that it was unrealistic to expect him to develop into anything more than what he was. Miami matching the offer sheet was a panic move in the wake of Wade’s departure and made under the impression that another cap spike was around the corner. Was it misguided by the Heat? Absolutely. But it was not, however, a reflection of the front office thinking Johnson could be some kind of star.
Johnson’s work was always understated. He’s not flashy. He’s one of those “last out” guys. Last out of the gym, last out of the practice facility, last out of the film room, etc. The most notable thing about Johnson was the fact that his teeth had a habit of escaping his mouth. Quite frankly, he doesn’t strike you as a guy who would have even the slightest idea of what to do with $50 million.