Report: Pistons ink Joe Johnson to partially guaranteed 1-year deal

The Detroit Pistons agreed on a partially guaranteed deal with veteran free-agent shooting guard Joe Johnson, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Johnson is coming off a debut season in the BIG3 in which he led the league in scoring with 21.9 points per game and helped The Triplets win the championship. He was also named the league MVP.

He's the first player to sign an NBA contract following a stint in the BIG3.

Michael Beasley is likely to be released in order to make room for Johnson on the roster, according to The Athletic's Jeff Goodman, who first reported negotiations were close. Though Beasley and the Pistons reportedly agreed on a deal in August, the forward never officially signed a contract, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks, allowing the club to cut him without having to go through waivers.

Johnson has attracted plenty of interest from the NBA in recent weeks. The Brooklyn Nets reportedly scheduled their own workout with their former star, and Johnson was supposedly also on the radar of the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Denver Nuggets.

Though no longer in his prime, Johnson, 38, boasts a 17-year career in the NBA. He last played in the league during the 2017-18 season, suiting up for both the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. He owns career averages of 16 points, four rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.8 steals, and has shot 37.1% from beyond the arc.

The seven-time All-Star has also passed through the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Utah Jazz, but is perhaps best remembered for his stints with the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, and Nets.