Tyler Johnson TORONTO, ON – MAY 11: Tyler Johnson #8 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket as Bismack Biyombo #8 of the Toronto Raptors defends in the second half of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on May 11, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

In professional sports, it’s pretty normal for younger players to express their excitement when they sign their first major deal. Some express that excitement in various ways. But guard Tyler Johnson had a bit of a different reaction upon hearing news of his $50 million deal with the Miami Heat: he wound up losing some of his lunch upon hearing the news.

“I threw up a couple of times when I heard the number go out there. I was in shock. I even lost a little bit of weight, because just the anxiety of going through that whole process and not knowing where I was going to be,” the Miami Heat guard said Monday during a team-sponsored water-safety event at Bucky Dent Water Park.

In the midst of the attention heaped towards marquee free agent Kevin Durant, Johnson had a bit of a wild free agency period of his own. Upon becoming a restricted free agent, the Brooklyn Nets extended an offer sheet to the D-League standout of $50 million, an offer that he did not expect to get matched by the Heat.

But once negotiations with Dwayne Wade fell through and he opted decided to sign with Chicago, the Heat could not afford to let the former undrafted guard walk to another team, especially since they had the needed cap space to match the Nets’ offer.

“It’s a great feeling to know that you’re wanted somewhere,” he said of the Heat matching the Nets’ offer. “They showed me how much they wanted me to be a part of the organization by matching. It wasn’t an easy process for me, and I know it wasn’t an easy process for them. I know there was a lot of changeover going on. But the ability to continue to grow with Josh and Briante, Hassan and Justise , those young guys, it’s a great opportunity.”

With Wade leaving town, this will certainly be a much different looking Heat team than people are used to seeing. With center Hassan Whiteside boasting a max-deal and 2015 first round pick Justise Winslow set to assume a bigger role alongside Johnson, Miami has a young core to build around.

Wade’s departure also leaves it more likely that Johnson steps into the starting lineup alongside point guard Goran Dragic. Despite their newfound youth, the Heat are well known for developing young talent. While it will certainly take time for the team to adjust without Wade, Miami has to be optimistic about their future.

[Sun-Sentinel]

About Colby Lanham

Colby Lanham is a graduate of Clemson University who, in addition to writing for The Comeback, has written for SI's Campus Rush, Bleacher Report, and Clemson Athletics. He is an alumni of the 2015 Sports Journalism Institute, where he also worked as an editorial intern for MLB.com. He has interests in football, basketball, and various forms of pop culture.