With their trade this past week, the Miami HEAT offered something of a vote of confidence in Tyler Johnson.
“You’ve have to give people room to really grow,” Pat Riley said after completing the deal. “We decided to give these young guys some room to grow and gain confidence, and they’re not just going to do it in the D-League.”
But Johnson, who had already spent months in the D-League last season at Sioux Falls, wasn’t looking for affirmation. He was already playing heavy, real, important minutes for a team with serious aspirations.
“I guess [the trade] did open up a few more minutes, but I always feel like I have confidence,” Johnson said.