Indiana Pacers re-sign James Johnson after veteran forward clears waivers

Veteran forward James Johnson is back with the Pacers

The Indiana Pacers weren't going to let James Johnson get away. The team re-signed the veteran forward on Monday after waiving him on Thursday. Johnson cleared waivers Sunday evening, and the Pacers brought him back the next day.

"I would guess that we would look at that. I can’t comment until the guys clear waivers, but I’d be open to that for sure," Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said of bringing Johnson back late last week. The plan was always to retain Johnson if they could.

They had to wait through the waiver process, though. The team waived center Serge Ibaka on Saturday to open the roster spot for Johnson, but they couldn't ink him to a deal just yet.

Friday night, one day after the Pacers originally let go of Johnson, he attended the Pacers game against the Phoenix Suns. He sat with the crowd, his seat was courtside under the basket on the north end of the court. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton's mom sat with Johnson during the game.

"I found out his mother really knows a lot about basketball," Johnson said. "She's not one of those scream-loud moms." It was the first time that Johnson could remember sitting courtside for an NBA game. It was a totally different experience.

Outside of that, Johnson mostly spent his few days on waivers alone. "Lonely days. Lazy. Didn't really know what to do with myself too much... I really missed the guys," Johnson said. He kept his fingers crossed that he would be able to remain in Indiana. 

On Monday, it became official that he would stay. "He's contributed so much to our situation," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. Johnson will make just over $900k on his new contract, and that is on top of his old deal he was on before getting waived.

Johnson has played in 12 games for the Pacers this season. He is averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, but most of his contribution comes as a locker room presence.

"That's my guy. We're really close," Pacers All-Star guard Haliburton said of Johnson. "Just excited to have him around, we're really close."

Johnson signed a deal for the rest of the season. The Pacers roster is now full with 17 players.

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