Johnson leaves Krasny Oktybar, signs with Cantu

Here's a situation for you. Let's say you're doing really well at work, but your boss doesn't want you working in that department so he fires you, and then hires you in a different department. That's what happened to JaJuan Johnson this past week when he was released by Krasny Oktybar (Russia) and signed with Pallacanestro Cantu (Italy).

Johnson had been playing for Krasny since the 2015-2016 season began. Through nine games in the VTB United League Johnson averaged 19.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, playing 32 minutes a game for Otybar. This included shooting 60 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from outside the arc. 

However, Johnson and fellow American Jordan Hamilton were both released by the Russian club Nov. 23, the third and fourth Americans to leave Krasny so far this season. In an interesting twist, Krasny owner Dimitri Gerasimenko recently acquired majority ownership of Pallacanestro Cantu, a team in Italy's first division.              

​While other teams made offers to Johnson he signed with Cantu - although his return is currently blocked by the Italian Basketball Federation. Interesting that an owner would release a player of Johnson's caliber, only to sign him with another of his teams in a different country. Johnson currently has an agreement with Cantu, but issues with the number of working visas on the team has gotten in the way of Johnson joining officially.