INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers have reportedly brought veteran James Johnson back for training camp to provide leadership, experience and the comforting knowledge that absolutely nobody wants an argument to escalate.
Johnson returns to Indiana on a training-camp deal as the Pacers prepare for a considerably more optimistic season following the return of Tyrese Haliburton.
Indiana officials described Johnson's role as “veteran presence,” which remains one of basketball's most flexible job descriptions.
Johnson is expected to provide advice to younger players, maintain professionalism around the locker room and occasionally stand up from the bench with enough purpose to immediately calm an entire section of the arena.
The move comes as Haliburton returns after missing last season while recovering from his Achilles injury. Indiana has also added Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. while bringing much of its previous Finals core back together.
Johnson's path to the opening-night roster is complicated by Indiana's hard-cap situation, meaning his latest Pacers tenure could be brief.
Team officials insist that doesn't make his presence any less valuable.
“You don't measure everything in minutes,” one source explained. “Sometimes you measure it in how quickly everybody suddenly starts behaving.”
Johnson has reportedly accepted the arrangement and will spend camp competing, mentoring and making sure every practice disagreement concludes peacefully.
The Pacers have not officially assigned him a position.
Unofficially, it remains power forward / human de-escalation policy.
