Amir Johnson Rumors: Sign-and-Trade Reported Possibility for Free Agent

Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported Saturday that it is a possibility free-agent power forward Amir Johnson could be part of a sign-and-trade deal.

The 30-year-old Johnson spent the past two seasons with the Boston Celtics after stints with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.

Johnson made 77 starts and averaged 20.1 minutes per game last season for the Celtics. He also put up 6.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.

The former second-round draft pick of the Pistons has primarily been a starter over the past four seasons, but he may be a better fit as interior depth off the bench if he lands elsewhere.

Boston already has Al Horford, Tyler Zeller and Jordan Mickey up front, plus Kelly Olynyk is a restricted free agent who could remain in the fold.

Johnson earned $12 million per year in his previous contract with the C's, per Spotrac, which is money that could arguably be better spent elsewhere for a team looking to break through in the Eastern Conference.

Johnson's best production came with the Raptors, particularly in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, as he averaged 10.0 and 10.4 points per game in those years, respectively.

If there is a bigger move on the horizon for Boston, such as the signing of Gordon Hayward, attempting to move Johnson in a sign-and-trade is a sensible option that would allow the Celtics to get an asset in return.