Keon Johnson joined the Nets in Las Vegas for the summer time league as an unrestricted free agent searching for a job.
He apparently aced the interview.
Johnson, who appeared in 5 video games for Brooklyn final season whereas on a two-way contract, agreed Saturday to a multiyear cope with the Nets, based on a number of reviews.
The 22-year-old guard out of Tennessee has averaged 16.3 factors, 5.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 4 appearances for the Nets in Vegas.
“I really feel like I’ve made an honest impression,” Johnson informed reporters earlier this week. “It’s a variety of room to develop. However I’ve seen on the movie the place [there have] been a number of instances the place I can present my stamp on the sport extra, and I really feel like every day I’ve sort of progressed and bought higher at that.”
Johnson technically was drafted by the Knicks with the twenty first general choose in 2021 earlier than his rights have been traded to the Clippers on draft evening for Quentin Grimes (twenty fifth general).
He then was dealt to Portland within the Norman Powell commerce and to Phoenix as a part of the multi-team Damian Lillard deal earlier than he was waived by the Suns.
The Nets signed Johnson in November, and he spent a lot of the season with the crew’s Lengthy Island affiliate within the G-League.
He totaled 61 minutes in 5 appearances with the Nets, nailing 4 of 10 3-point makes an attempt and averaging 6.2 factors.
Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel, who’s operating the summer time league squad, beforehand coached Johnson in Portland.
He stated Thursday he’s been “very happy” with the 6-foot-5 guard’s play at each ends, including, “I feel Keon may very well be a nightmare defensively.”
The Johnson signing comes sooner or later after the Nets acquired small ahead Ziaire Williams from the Grizzlies for former Knicks ahead Mamadi Diakite.