Earlier this week, the Phoenix Suns released Tyler Johnson so he could be free to get healthy and sign with another team for the stretch run before he becomes a free agent this summer.
Johnson’s fall from rotation-caliber is fascinating in a macabre kind of way. A career 11-PPG-36%-3P bench scorer and ball handler suddenly seemed to forget how to play basketball this year after being virtually handed the 3rd-guard designation out of the chute behind starters Devin Booker and Ricky Rubio.
In preseason, Johnson was excited about the season, talking openly about his trust in Monty Williams’ system, leadership and culture.