The Toronto Raptors officially announced free-agent forward James Johnson has re-signed. Financial terms of the two-year deal were not disclosed, but the deal is reportedly worth $5 million. Guard Greivis Vasquez also signed a two-year contract reportedly worth $13 million.
Johnson spent parts of two seasons with the Raptors in 2010-11 and 2011-12, but had issues with coach Dwane Casey and was ultimately benched.
“It never was bad, we had our bumps, but that’s war,” Johnson said Tuesday, per CBC Sports. “It’s a war out there when we’re playing a game and sometimes you say stuff that you regret or you say stuff that you don’t really mean.
“Dwane Casey is a great guy and I feel like he realizes that and we’ve moved forward from where we were at. We had a great conversation and I’m just ready to win and I know he is.”
Johnson, 27, spent time with the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies, and averaged 7.4 points and 3.2 assists for the Grizzlies last season.
“We are happy to have James return to our club,” said Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri. “He provides us with size at small forward and gives us additional depth up front.”
The 6-9, 250-pound Johnson provides size and is a noted solid defender off the bench.
Vasquez, 27, averaged 9.5 points and 3.7 assists in 61 games with the Raptors after being acquired from the Kings in December.
“There were a couple other teams that were trying to get me (in free agency),” Vasquez said, per CBS Sports. “I had some phone calls that I thought I was never going to get.
“My heart is here so it was going to be hard for me to go somewhere else. Whether I come off the bench, whether I’m a starting point guard, it doesn’t really matter. It’s about being happy, it’s about winning, it’s about building a legacy.”