HoopsHype.com Rumors

DeMarcus Cousins on James Johnson's game-winner tonight in Sacramento. “We tease him all the time about his shooting, but for him to have the confidence to shoot it and shoot it the right way and make it, that’s big for him. Hopefully that game-winner can carry over into other games and his shot can really get going.” –Cousins on Johnson’s big shot to win the game Sulia

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, James Johnson 

After finding out the news about his teammate, rookie Thomas Robinson adhered to his coach’s message. “I think (my reaction) was pretty much, ‘We have to work and stay together as a team, come out and have a good practice,” said No. 0. Forward James Johnson echoed a similar sentiment. “I just know we have to get stronger as a team and we have to start to trust each other a lot more,” he said. “We’re going to have some guys step up, including myself, to be able to win games.” The Kings Blog

Sacramento Kings, James Johnson, Thomas Robinson 

Offensively speaking, it’s been a rocky start to the NBA season for newcomer James Johnson. The Sacramento Kings small forward hasn’t been able to find his rhythm and is shooting a team-low 23 percent from the field through four games. Johnson has looked out of sync when the Kings have had the ball, but his struggles aren’t a major concern for Keith Smart. The Kings head coach believes that the 25-year-old forward is still adapting to his new surroundings. “I don’t think there’s anything ailing him,” Smart said of Johnson following Tuesday practice. “I think it’s all new to him. I’m giving him freedom to function as a wing player and I think that’s maybe something new to him. “I’m saying to him do whatever you need to do and do it decisively,” Smart added. “And I think he’s kind of shell-shocked (with) that, you know?” Cowbell Kingdom

Sacramento Kings, Keith Smart, James Johnson 

Even if the Kings do not agree to an extension after the season, they can make a $6.9 million qualifying offer to Evans, who would become a restricted free agent. The Kings could match any offer for him. That's the strategy the Kings used with Jason Thompson in the offseason before agreeing to a multiyear deal. The other King eligible for an extension was forward James Johnson, who is in his first season with the team. He wasn't signed to an extension, either. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, James Johnson 

James Johnson, Bulls (traded to Kings): Also not happening. The Kings are not exactly flush with disposable income these days. NBA.com

Sacramento Kings, James Johnson 

Sounds as if Keith Smart's hope his team would bond in the offseason is happening. Ten of the players on the roster are in Sacramento working out and playing 5-on-5. The only players that could not be in town are John Salmons, James Johnson, Chuck Hayes and Francisco Garcia. It's important that young nucleus that the franchise is depending on (DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton) is in town. Also have to like that new PG Aaron Brooks is getting to know his new teammates. Definitely a step in the right direction and something that's needed to build team chemistry. Sulia

Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, John Salmons, Keith Smart, Marcus Thornton, Tyreke Evans, James Johnson, Aaron Brooks, Francisco Garcia, Chuck Hayes 

Here are your new jersey numbers for the newest #nbakings: Thomas Robinson: 0, Aaron Brooks: 3, James Johnson: 52, Tyler Honeycutt is changing his jersey number to 9. Sulia

Sacramento Kings, James Johnson, Aaron Brooks, New Jersey, Tyler Honeycutt, Thomas Robinson 

They had been in talks with free agent small forward Terrence Williams, but a source with knowledge of the team's plans said he is no longer part of the Kings' future. The addition of Brooks came just hours after the team announced the addition of small forward James Johnson, who was acquired from Toronto for a second-round pick. SI.com

Sacramento Kings, Free Agency, Terrence Williams, James Johnson, Aaron Brooks 

Doug Smith: #Raptors minor deal of James Johnson complete; sources say Valanciunas signed in "next couple of days." Story at http://thestar.com soon Twitter

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Transactions 

The Kings' trade for James Johnson is official. The Kings receive the forward in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2014. Johnson makes $2.8 million so the team still has some room under the cap. I like the pickup for the Kings. Low risk, possible high reward. Sulia

Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Trade, James Johnson 

Marc Stein: Some news after flight No. 2: Raptors & Kings have struck a deal to send James Johnson to Sacramento for future second-rounder #inglaterra Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Trade, James Johnson 

“At least one transaction that could happen that would free up some additional flexibility, both financially and with respect to the new makeup and composition of our team in terms of playing time,” (Colangelo) said of the unnamed player. According to multiple sources, the Raptor in question is combo forward James Johnson, who fell out of favour with the coaching staff late last season following a strong first half. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson 

Not sure what it was with James Johnson, even the most chatty people in the organization went silent, referring to it as an internal matter, but the suggestion in private conversations was that it wasn’t that big a deal. Think it speaks to Dwane Casey, though, as much as it does Johnson. This is a coach who’ll do whatever he deems necessary to keep this team headed in the right direction and I’m sure there have been other instances of clashes between coaches and players or players and players this year – it’s inevitable and it happens with every team in the league. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson 

Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson exited Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls with a right ankle injury. X-rays were negative on Johnson, who will re-evaluated Sunday in Atlanta and is considered day-to-day. HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Injuries, James Johnson 

James Johnson will get an early Christmas present. It will come in the form of Saturday’s UFC card at the ACC, a sport the Raptors power forward grew up in and one he enjoys watching the same way many of his fellow Raptors teammates enjoy every Sunday during the NFL season. For Johnson, mixed martial arts was an integral part of his childhood and teen years. From the age of 8 he began training in four different disciplines and by the time he was 19 he had a perfect 18-0 record. A basketball scholarship to Wake Forest ended his fight career but certainly not his passion for the sport. He still finds himself returning to the gym for training every once in a while. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson 

“When basketball training and running suicides in the gym, especially in the summer time, when that gets repetitive you don’t want to stop working out so I go back into the gym and do some martial arts training,” Johnson said. “I keep myself in shape plus it’s a love that will never leave.” Having been inside the octagon, Johnson has no time for the sport’s naysayers who don’t give it the respect it deserves. “If people don’t think this is a sport like any other sport where they train and dedicate their lives to their sport to learn every aspect then step up and get in the (octagon),” he said. “You have to learn all these combat styles,” Johnson points out having been through it himself. “It’s not just one. Or it’s not just ‘Hey, I’m strong. I’ll just get in there and beat him up.’ Kimbo Slice is proof of that. He was beating everyone up in those street fights. He was a YouTube hero for street fights and then he gets into the cage and didn’t win anything in there. It’s a whole different ball game.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson 

Tas Melas: James Johnson learned from Artest this summer. I thought the lessons were court based, not hair focused: http://yfrog.com/obnsm4j (via @raptors) Twitter

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson 

Dwane Casey on the core players in Toronto: “Andrea (Bargnani) is definitely a piece of the core that we have to utilize. He’s our star. DeMar Derozan is definitely an athletic part of our core, Jose Calderon, Jerryd Bayless, James Johnson is in that group, and Amir Johnson. You’ve got the core now. The part you may have to add is a veteran piece, a veteran defender or whatever along with our draft pick is something that I’m sure Bryan and the staff are going to look at, but the core pieces are there to build on to use as building blocks. Those guys are the guys were gonna push, cajole, put an arm around, or whatever it takes to get to that next level.” Sports Radio Interviews

Toronto Raptors, Jose Manuel Calderon, Amir Johnson, Jerryd Bayless, DeMar DeRozan, James Johnson, Andrea Bargnani 

Darren Andrade: "My plus-minus is outrageous." - newest Raptor James Johnson Twitter

Toronto Raptors, James Johnson 

As the Bulls conducted their morning shootaround Wednesday on the Air Canda Centre court, James Johnson was in the building, undergoing his physical. A Raptors spokesman said Johnson would address the media before Wednesday night's 6 p.m. tipoff. "He was terrific for us," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We didn't have a whole lot of minutes for him. His attitude was great. He worked extremely hard. He was athletic. I think it's a good move for the Raptors and for us. It gives us some flexibility moving forward." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Trade, James Johnson