JOE JOHNSON

The NBA commissioner pondered pausing this season when the virus numbers were at their worst for many teams.

The Boston Celtics signed 40-year-old Joe Johnson to a 10-day contract Wednesday.

FILE - Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas (4) stands during the National Anthem prior to an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, in this Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, file photo. Two-time NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas hopes playing this weekend with USA Basketball in FIBA AmeriCup qualifying in Puerto Rico gives an NBA club reason to sign him. The two-time All-Star is suiting up with USA Basketball for a pair of FIBA AmeriCup qualifying games in San Juan, Puerto Rico — and Thomas expects NBA teams to be watching. He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers three days later, then waived, and hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since. When USA Basketball called, he leaped at the chance.

USA Basketball has finalized the 14-player roster for the final round of AmeriCup qualifying later this month, a group led by NBA All-Stars Joe Johnson and Isaiah Thomas. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Basketball has finalized the 14-player roster for the final round of AmeriCup qualifying later this month, a group led by NBA All-Stars Joe Johnson and Isaiah Thomas. Both Johnson and Thomas have past USA Basketball experience as well. USA Basketball has won the AmeriCup title seven times in nine previous attempts. Thomas and Johnson won't be the only players with longstanding NBA ties in the February qualifiers.