The Portland Trail Blazers are picking up Keon Johnson’s $2,808,720 team option for the 2023-24 season. This is part of the four-year, $12.5 million rookie-scale contract the guard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers last August.
His multi-year deal is fully guaranteed. Johnson has another team option worth $4,474,291 for the 2024-25 season. For the upcoming season, the Tennessee product will earn $2,681,040.
At several NBA betting sites, the Trail Blazers have a low 15 chance of winning the championship in 2023. However, some sportsbooks are expecting another playoff experience.
The Trail Blazers are picking up the 2023-2024 option for guard Keon Johnson, sources told ESPN. Johnson played 25 minutes per game last season after being traded to the Clippers. He was the 21st pick in the 2021 draft.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 6, 2022
The Trail Blazers had until Oct. 31 to exercise their club option. It looks like the front office made the right choice. Johnson was selected 21st overall by the New York Knicks in the 2021 NBA Draft.
However, the guard was traded to the Clippers for Quentin Grimes and a 2024 second-round draft pick. In 15 games off the bench with Los Angeles last season, Johnson averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 33.3% from the field.
In February, the Clippers traded Johnson, Eric Bledsoe, Judge Winslow and a 2025 first-round draft pick to the Trail Blazers for Robert Covington and Norman Powell.
The Trail Blazers picked up the 2023-24 team option for Keon Johnson
Of course, in 22 games with Portland, the guard averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 boards and 2.9 assists per contest. He also shot 35.7% from the floor and 34.8% from 3-point range.
On March 28, 2022, Johnson scored a game-high 17 points in 42 minutes of action in the Trail Blazers’ 134–131 overtime loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He finished 7-of-19 (36.8%) from the field and 3-9 (33.3%) from beyond the arc.
Additionally, four days later in Portland’s 130-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the guard played a career-high 20 points in 26 minutes. He shot 8 of 15 (53.3%) from the floor and 4 of 6 (66.7%) from downtown.
While in the NCAA with Tennessee, in 27 games during his freshman 2020-21 season, Keon Johnson averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 boards, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Has started in 17 races.
In the year In the year He shot 9-of-16 (56.3%) from the floor. The takeaway from this game is what the Trail Blazers will be hoping for next season.
He finished 17th in the SEC in 2-point field goals (98). Not to mention, Johnson ranks ninth in defensive rating (94.5) and 20th in steal percentage (2.5).
To add to his college stats above, the guard was selected to the SEC All-Freshman First Team. Keon Johnson has come a long way since his days with the Volunteers.
If the Trail Blazers are to return to the playoffs in 2023, they will want him to stay healthy. This especially applies to Damian Lillard.
