The Hawks have added another name to the mix, signing former first-round pick Keon Johnson, the team announced in an email.
Atlanta did not release the terms of the deal, but the move is expected to be an Exhibit 10 contract with a training camp invitation. If that’s the case, Johnson could be in line for a bonus worth up to $91K in addition to his G League salary, provided he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with the College Park Skyhawks. He’s not eligible for a two-way contract, since he’s already played four NBA seasons.
Johnson, now 24, entered the league as the 21st overall pick in the 2021 draft by New York before being traded to the Clippers on draft night. His path since then has been busy: he went to Portland during his rookie season and remained there through the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
In the fall of 2023, Johnson was moved to Phoenix as part of the Damian Lillard trade, then waived before that season started. He later landed in Brooklyn on a two-way deal and finally saw extended run in the 2024/25 season. Over 79 games, including 56 starts, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting .389 from the field, .314 from three and .770 at the line.
The Nets waived him last September, and Johnson spent the next stretch with the Maine Celtics in the G League. There, he put up 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals across 15 games.
Atlanta still has room to maneuver. The Hawks have 14 players on fully guaranteed contracts, along with Mouhamed Gueye on a non-guaranteed deal. They’ve already filled all three two-way spots and have Isaac McKneely on an Exhibit 10 contract, which means Johnson’s arrival leaves them with one roster opening still available.
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