For all the talk that has surrounded many new additions to the Toronto Raptors, there have been an equal amount of rumours about who may be leaving this summer. At this point, it seems as though the team’s roster is pretty well locked in, with the exception of a few Summer League stars fighting to cement their spots. Somewhat unexpectedly, James Johnson has not been moved this summer and rumours around the likelihood of him being traded have been nonexistent recently.

It is hard to believe that Johnson has a long-term future in Toronto, though the team could certainly use him. Unfortunately, last season, it became public knowledge that Johnson once again hit a riff with head coach Dwane Casey, which is part of the reason his playing time began to dwindle. By the end of the season, he was often scratched in lieu of less talented and less defensively skilled players.

It really comes down to a question of mental state. Johnson has the skills necessary to receive ample playing time in Casey’s system, which is evidenced by the many minutes he played near the start of the season. But, if he can’t get along with the coach, he has no business staying in Toronto. Anyways, this isn’t new for Johnson, since he was sent away during his first stint in Toronto after similar issues came to light. Still, at the start at last season, it seemed he had turned a new leaf.

Hopefully, Ujiri has kept Johnson because the player has once again committed to building a good relationship with his coach. If Johnson can put his past problems behind him for good, the team will be in a much better spot. After all, he did record a player efficiency rating of 17.9 last season. Plus, Johnson averaged 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per 36 minutes. Basically, when he got on the court, he was solid.

Johnson’s best attribute is his tireless lockdown defence. He is an absolute workhorse on the court, possessing the strength and agility to cover shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards. Last season, he averaged a block per game, which is further evidence of his imposition on opposing players.

It will be tough to tell the status of Johnson’s future with the Raptors until he shows up for training camp. If he and Casey both say everything is okay, we will take it at face value, and assume Johnson will play far more than 19.6 minutes per game this season.