Free agent - Signed as a free agent in August 2021
- Birthdate: 02/20/1987
- Drafted (NBA): 16th pick, 2009
- Pre-draft team: Wake Forest
- Country: USA
- Hand: Right
- Agent: Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports)
| Date | League | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 NBA Draft | NBA | Drafted 16th overall by Chicago. |
| 8th July, 2009 | NBA | Signed four year, $7,952,806 rookie scale contract with Chicago. Included team options for 2011/12 and 2012/13. |
| 25th October, 2010 | NBA | Chicago exercised 2011/12 team option. |
| 27th January, 2011 | D-League | Assigned by Chicago to Iowa Energy of the D-League. |
| 14th February, 2011 | D-League | Recalled by Chicago from Iowa Energy of the D-League. |
| 22nd February, 2011 | NBA | Traded by Chicago to Toronto in exchange for a 2011 first round pick (#28, Norris Cole). |
| 24th June, 2011 | NBA | Toronto exercised 2012/13 team option. |
| 16th July, 2012 | NBA | Traded by Toronto to Sacramento in exchange for a 2014 second round pick (#37, DeAndre Daniels). |
| 21st September, 2013 | NBA | Signed an unguaranteed two year minimum salary contract with Atlanta. |
| 21st October, 2013 | NBA | Waived by Atlanta. |
| 1st November, 2013 | D-League | Drafted 2nd overall in the 2013 D-League Draft by Rio Grande Valley Vipers. |
| 16th December, 2013 | NBA | Signed an unguaranteed minimum salary contract for the remainder of the season with Memphis. |
| 15th July, 2014 | NBA | Signed a two year, $5 million contract with Toronto. |
| 10th July, 2016 | NBA | Signed a one year, $4 million contract with Miami. |
| 7th July, 2017 | NBA | Re-signed by Miami to a four year, $60,002,200 contract. Included player option for 2020/21. |
| 2007 - 2009 | Wake Forest (NCAA) |
| June 2009 - February 2011 | Chicago Bulls (NBA) |
| February 2011 - July 2012 | Toronto Raptors (NBA) |
| July 2012 - June 2013 | Sacramento Kings (NBA) |
| September 2013 - October 2013 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) |
| November 2013 - December 2013 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) |
| December 2013 - June 2014 | Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) |
| July 2014 - June 2016 | Toronto Raptors (NBA) |
| July 2016 - present | Miami Heat (NBA) |
June 29, 2017
James Johnson
SF/PF, 6’9, 250lbs, 30 years old, 8 years of experience
2016/17 was a career year for Johnson, for whom a move to power forward full-time was most welcomed. He shot the three better, enjoyed the biggest offensive role of his career to date, became a key clutch player of all things, and also picked up his rebounding a bit. And while he was still prone to the occasional moment of thinking he is Kevin Durant and a high number of bad passes, Johnson also picked up his defence. No longer letting players get past him in order to go for the recovering block, Johnson did a better job keeping players in front, holding them to less efficient shooting, and still got the blocks anyway. He lost weight, played for a contract, and will probably get it.
Player Plan: Expiring $5 million salary and earned a pay rise. Given his style of play, Johnson will be coveted by contending teams, although those teams might only have MLEs to work with. For that amount, he is worth re-signing with a view to dealing down the road.
March 10, 2011
When it came to the player name announcements, events went down just as they had in the first game; same players (save for Vujacic over Morrow), in the same order, with the same levels of reception. The only break from procedure came when James Johnson, the first player announced, missed his turn in the post-announcement handslaps. Julian Wright found this funny.
February 26, 2011
In trading James Johnson to Toronto, Chicago somehow managed to somehow obtain a first round pick for a player they drafted in the mid-first round, then never played, and whose valued they crucified. It's the Thabo Sefolosha all over again, with one subtle difference; benching Johnson behind Luol Deng and Kyle Korver is entirely justified, while making Thabo sit for Adrian Griffin and Chris Duhon was not. Toronto takes a worthwhile shot at a player with size, athleticism and talent, who hasn't learnt how to put his tools together or play under control, but who now has the opportunity to learn on the job with a team not headed anywhere quickly.
July 12, 2010
Dante Cunningham
Considering he's always been a power forward in a small forward's body, Cunningham made a pretty decent effort of pretending otherwise. Given plenty of opportunities due to injury, Cunningham shot his customary mid range two's well, rebounding well enough for a man of his size, and proved he could play defense on most small and power forwards. He also turned it over only 25 times all year, leading all rookies in turnover percentage at 6.0%. This is helped significantly by the fact that he doesn't dribble, but nevertheless, it's a hugely impressive number. (Tyler Hansbrough was next lowest at 7.1% in his part-season of work; Marcus Thornton was third at 7.3%. The worst? Jrue Holiday, 21.9%. Then James Johnson. Then Hasheem Thabeet.)