Joe Johnson, Brandan Wright find a good fit with loaded Rockets

New Rockets guard Chris Paul, right and below, wants to pursue an NBA championship as intensely as he pursues a loose basketball on the court. New Rockets guard Chris Paul, right and below, wants to pursue an NBA championship as intensely as he pursues a loose basketball on the court. Photo: Mark J. Terrill, STF Photo: Mark J. Terrill, STF Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Joe Johnson, Brandan Wright find a good fit with loaded Rockets 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

As recruiting pitches go, Mike D’Antoni’s might have been the worst ever. But there was method to his madness.

When he spoke to Joe Johnson and Brandan Wright about joining the Rockets, he privately thought the best, but described the worst-case scenario about shoe-horning them into an already crowded rotation of an already soaring team.

Both signed on, anyway, with Wright making it official on Tuesday, Johnson on Wednesday before the Rockets faced the Sacramento Kings.

“I definitely tried to paint the worst picture,” D’Antoni said. “If it’s better, great. If not, hey at least I told you.”

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Neither believed D’Antoni’s warnings, though they seemed as if they would have chosen the Rockets, the only team they said they considered, even if they did think the Rockets were adding them only to look good in hotel lobbies.

Because they were signed as free agents, rather than acquired in a trade, no one in the rotation went out to bring two players in, though the Rockets on Wednesday waived Troy Williams to open a roster spot. But when they considered how well their strengths and style fits the Rockets’, both figured the Rockets were too right for them to worry about playing time.

“I think I’m going to get on the court,” Wright said. “I’m a confident player. I think what I do translates well. A lot of guys here are established already, which is good. At the same time, I’ll take my opportunities and make the best of them. He told the truth. You have to respect that. I probably could have gone other places and played a lot more minutes, but I think this is a great opportunity to win and be part of something special.

“I think it is a perfect fit, similar to the stuff I did in Dallas, getting up and down the court, attacking the rim, using my versatility, playing fast, playing free.”

A pick-and-roll center accustomed to rim running and finishing above the rim, Wright should fit quickly with the Rockets offense. Johnson has already played in a version of their schemes when he played for D’Antoni for three seasons in Phoenix. Johnson said he was not worried about where he will fit in the Rockets’ rotation, though he had to know that D’Antoni’s schemes make the wing players nearly interchangeable, opening more opportunities for his versatility to get him on the floor.

“At this point in my career, obviously I still have something left, but this obviously has been a great team,” Johnson said. “I understand what I’m up against with playing time or not playing. No gripes or groans with me, man. I’m here to help out. This is the team I wanted from the start. I didn’t even have a conversation with anybody (else).

At 36, Johnson offers something no one else on the Rockets roster can. “Makes Nene feel younger,” D’Antoni said. “That’s a positive right there.

He also thought Johnson can fit in other ways, even bringing experiences in the post-season relatively few others in the Rockets locker room have enjoyed.

“He can play different positions, play one through four, guard anybody Just experience, he makes big-time shots at the end of the game,” D’Antoni said. “Playoff time, he’s got a lot of experience there. Then we’ll see how it all works out. We have to figure it out. It’s up in the air. We’ll see how it goes.

“Now, we just have to find room and get everybody comfortable and find rotations, which won’t be easy. Some guys are going to get squeezed a little bit. Hopefully, it’s all about the bigger picture and trying to go deep in the playoffs.”

That was the plan, Wright and Johnson said, so much so, that D’Antoni could not talk them out of joining him.

“Obviously, they have big goals here,” Johnson said. “We just have to continue to work hard to achieve them. I think the style of play alone will help out (with the adjustment), just going out and hooping and playing ball. We’re going to play off James (Harden) and C.P. (Chris Paul.) They’re going to lead us.

"I think it's a perfect place for me to play, great opportunity to win a championship. Everything worked out.”