Former D-League All Star replaces Howell as TnT import

MANILA, Philippines – Despite a 4-1 win-loss record, Talk n Text has decided to drop former Best Import Richard Howell, who struggled to find his rhythm in his return stint in the PBA.

Ivan Johnson, the Tropang Texters’ original choice, is set to replace Howell when the Tropang Texters collide with sister team NLEX Road Warriors on Friday.

Johnson is a former NBA D-League All Star and just got waived by the Texas Legends last Feb. 6 making him available to play in the PBA.

“There’s nothing wrong with Rich (Howell). Rich did everything we asked and expected of him. Ivan was just really the first choice of the coaching staff and he became available,” Talk n Text assistant coach Josh Reyes told Philstar.com on Wednesday.

Howell averaged 19.5 points (tied with Rain or Shine’s Rick Jackson for lowest scoring clip among all imports this conference) and 15.4 rebounds (eight among all imports). While he led all imports with an efficient 59.2 percent shooting clip, his free throw shooting was the exact opposite shooting a league-worst 28 percent (7-of-25) from the line.

Howell’s camp was not surprised about the decision but the way they were informed came as a shock to her Philippine agent Sheryl Reyes.

“I was surprised how they fired him,” Howell’s agent told Philstar.com also on Wednesday.

“Don’t get me wrong. We are not mad. Actually, it was good it happened. It makes Rich a free agent next year and he can go to the team who would really need and appreciate him,” Reyes added.

It was only yesterday (Tuesday), the same day Johnson flew in, when Howell’s camp learned about his fate.

“We were handed the pink slip yesterday (Tuesday). It wasn’t a surprise for us because since the start, [Talk ’N Text] Coach Jong Uichico wasn’t really keen on hiring Richard. Previously, if an import would be fired, previous Talk ’N Text team manager Aboy Castro would inform us ahead of the situation. However this time, it was only through text that I was told they would have a new import for the next game,” Reyes said.  

Howell was on the radar of Brgy. Ginebra but Talk n Text held on to its rights according to Reyes since Johnson was not yet available at that time. The Kings eventually settled with Mike Dunnigan, a returning import like Howell.

Despite Howell’s unceremonious exit, Reyes said his ward is still upbeat.

“It’s about the comeback, not the falling. I’m just glad I’m here, playing. I wasn’t supposed to make it this far. I’m eager for what’s next to come,” Howell was quoted by Reyes.

“I ain’t tripping. That’s how I look at it. I’ve been through so much shit that this can’t hurt me,” he added.

Johnson is a veteran of the NBA D-League and also had previous stints in Puerto Rico, China and Korea where he was banned for life for gesturing a middle finger to a Korean Basketball League official during a championship match in 2008.

Johnson rebounded from the incident and found his way to the NBA. The 6-foot-8 energy guy had a promising season in 2012 with the Atlanta Hawks after going undrafted in 2007.

Johnson once scored 13 of 15 points in triple overtime against LeBron James and Miami Heat and had a career-high 21 points against Toronto Raptors three years ago but his history of volatile temper hounded his career.

He was once sent home by the Hawks and fined an undisclosed amount for a “conduct detrimental to the team” according to an NBA.com report. He ended the 2012 season with another hefty fine of $25,000 for gesturing a middle finger to a Boston fan after the Celtics ousted them in the playoffs.  

In college, he left University of Oregon after his coach refused to extend his scholarship due to his “anger management issues”. 

But despite his troubled past, Talk n Text is ready to roll the dice with the 30-yeard old Johnson, who came clean in the last three years.