Timbers Acquire Ryan Johnson and Miloš Kocić From Toronto
December 12th, 2012 by Michael Orr
Sources have confirmed to NASN Portland that the Timbers have traded with Toronto FC for Ryan Johnson and Miloš Kocić. Other reporting (most notably Soccer by Ives) suggests that Portland will part with the no. 3 overall pick in January’s SuperDraft. Johnson, a 28-year old Jamaican forward, and Kocić, a 27-year old goalkeeper, are the latest additions in Caleb Porter’s increasingly extensive rehabilitation project at the Timbers.
Adding Kocić leaves Portland with four goalkeepers, including Donovan Ricketts, Jake Gleeson and Joe Bendik. The expectation is that the club will move one of the current goalkeepers to a new club, perhaps via a season-long loan. Johnson is an almost perfect piece for Porter’s expected 4-3-3 formation, having played a similar role in Toronto.
UPDATE – Joe Bendik has also been traded to Toronto, while the Timbers will part with an undisclosed amount of allocation money in the acquisition of Johnson and Kocić. Additionally, Portland moves up to Chivas USA’s no. 2 allocation position in exchange for the no. 3 position and either an international spot or a second round SuperDraft pick.
I like the idea of a foward who can play well in a 4-3-3 and a more experienced keeper than our 2 backups that is younger than our first string keeper, but I can’t see this being worth our draft pick. I hope that is just rumor and not part of the deal.
Seems to depend on whether or not Porter sees value at no. 3. If team adds Home Grown Player(s) (Gallego, Evans?), the draft is less important.
Draft picks are never a guarantee, either. I was excited to see who we would get at number three, but I’m even more excited to get a guy who has been successful in MLS, and by all accounts, fits perfectly into the system Porter is going to implement. Do you think there’s a possibility of trading one of the other 3 GKs, or is a loan the only realistic possibility?
Post now updated to reflect Joe Bendik’s inclusion in the trade.
I am excited about these moves. I don’t mind losing draft picks considering all of the really young talent we have. I don’t think we have room for more development players.