Seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson reportedly set for workouts with four NBA teams

For the first time in more than 15 years, the 2018-19 NBA season existed without Joe Johnson but the seven-time All-Star might be inching toward a return to the highest level of professional basketball. Johnson, who was recently named MVP of the 2019 BIG3 season, reportedly has four NBA workouts in the works, with the first coming before his BIG3 team even takes the floor for the league title on Sunday. 

Marc J. Spears of ESPN brings word that Johnson will work out for the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, with workouts scheduled for the Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers in the future. Johnson was electric during the BIG3 season, leading the entire league in points, assists and field goals, and that showing may have cracked the door open a bit. 

It has to be noted that the 38-year-old Johnson hasn't been an impactful NBA contributor since the 2016-17 season, as he struggled through 55 games of supporting work for the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets in 2017-18. However, Johnson brings a combination of size, physicality and shot-making that could translate under certain circumstances and, at the very least, it isn't wild to consider a world in which he could help a contender like Philadelphia in a niche role. 

Expectations should be tempered for Johnson at this stage, just as they would for any 38-year-old that has been out of the NBA for more than a year. Still, it appears as if he is at least open to showcasing himself with an eye toward rekindling the NBA flame and teams like the Sixers, Bucks, Nuggets and Clippers could also make the case that having an established veteran presence isn't the worst use of a full-season roster spot.