Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko contracts will be guranteed
By Andre Pruitt
The Boston Celtics will guarantee Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko’s contract for the 2016-17 NBA season.
The Boston Celtics will guarantee the contracts of Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko for the 2016-2017 season according to Henry McKenna of boston.com. Amir Johnson started 76 of the 79 games he played last season, while Jerebko played in 78.
Johnson posted averages of 7.3 points and 6.4 rebounds last season to go with 1.1 block per outing, though those numbers will surely decline now that the Celtics have agreed to a deal with former Atlanta Hawks All-Star Al Horford.
Jerebko averaged only 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season, but his play improved in the playoffs against the Hawks. Head coach Brad Stevens decided to sit Jared Sullinger and started Jerebko due to his floor spacing capabilities at the power forward position.
Stevens’ decision to turn to Jerebko in the playoffs ultimately led to him improving his output to 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds a game in 6 games against the Hawks. He also recorded double doubles in Game 3 and Game 4.
With Sullinger seemingly out of the door in Boston, Johnson and Jerebko may in fact fight for that starting power forward position. Stevens will have to decide whether he prefers the defense and rim protection of Johnson or the stretch four capabilities of Jerebko.
Johnson might be the better fit next to Horford, though, with Horford stretching his game to the three point line in past seasons. So the post presence Johnson provides will be a better complement next to Horford than another shooter like Jerebko.
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