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Although you’ve said that you enjoy being overseas, do you feel more mature now to pursue the NBA dream? Does it depend only on you being offered a guaranteed contract or are there any other factors? Jajuan Johnson: Obviously, it’s a dream. But I believe that at this point it has to make sense. It would have to be a great opportunity, almost on the lines of a guaranteed contract. I have a solid reputation in Europe and it would really have to be worth my while at this point.
“JaJuan Johnson had a tremendous college career,” Butler, who was taken by Chicago at No. 30 in that 2011 draft, told me when I asked if he was aware of the Celtics’ regret. “He probably did more in college than I ever dreamt of doing, and I hope he’s having a healthy career, wherever he is. But I don’t look at it like that, man. You don’t know. I got lucky. I fell into Chicago and turned into a player, and maybe if I’m (with the Celtics) I don’t pan out to be the player that I am. It’s funny how things work together to make something happen like that. I’m grateful for where I am, and I’m grateful for who did take me in the draft.”
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Mike Zarren has been in the NBA long enough to realize that you’re not going to hit a home run with every draft pick. But he readily admits the 2011 draft is one that the Celtics whiffed on by not taking Butler. "The one that we talk about the most internally is Jimmy Butler and JaJuan Johnson," Zarren said. “Every team has tons of these stories. We had it narrowed down to those two guys and picked the wrong one." Zarren added, “We should have picked Jimmy and we didn’t.”
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Ex-NBA PF JaJuan Johnson, who led David Blatt and Darussafaka to the EuroCup championship, is close to deal to sign with Lokomotiv Kuban.
There are some intriguing players who will sign extensions or become free agents next summer, such as Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson, Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard, Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris, Faried, Oklahoma City’s Reggie Jackson, Miami’s Norris Cole, and Chicago’s Jimmy Butler. The Celtics don’t have to worry about such four-year contract issues. That was the year they acquired JaJuan Johnson on draft night for MarShon Brooks. Johnson never stuck in the NBA and is now playing for Besiktas in the Turkish League. Brooks, meanwhile, has signed with Emporio Armani Milano of the Italian League.
Besiktas made official the signings of JaJuan Johnson and Caner Erdeniz.
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Emiliano Carchia: OFFICIAL: JaJuan Johnson signs in Italy with @PistoiaBasket
JaJuan Johnson is close to signing in Italy with Giorgio Tesi Pistoia according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The big man is drawing interest from another Italian team, Sutor Montegranaro, but Pistoia is the front runner to sign him.
Kyle Neddenriep: Former Purdue star JaJuan Johnson said tonight he'll decide in about three weeks on playing overseas or going to NBA training camp.
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