Phoenix Suns guard Keon Johnson will reportedly be waived so that the team can cut down the roster to 15 players. The 21-year-old found his way to Phoenix during the three-team trade with Milwaukee and Portland that also saw Jusuf Nurkic joining the team. Johnson didn't seem to impress the coaching staff enough to hang around on the end of the bench. He'll likely latch on somewhere that has a two-way deal available or a tanking team that needs to fill out their bench.
The Portland Trail Blazers finally satisfied Damian Lillard's trade request on Wednesday, and forward Nassir Little and guard Keon Johnson ended up on the Phoenix Suns in the fallout of the comings and goings. The Suns also netted Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen while Portland got Deandre Ayton out of Phoenix in the swap. Little took a step back last year after a decent 2021-22 season that saw him average 9.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 threes, and 0.9 blocks in 25.9 minutes over 42 games (23 starts). Johnson only averaged 4.7 points during 10.4 minutes a year ago, so he's likely hard-pressed to see meaningful run in the desert, too. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on names such as Matisse Thybulle and Kris Murray to absorb more minutes in Portland in wake of the move.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Keon Johnson (finger) won't be available for the remainder of Summer League. The 21-year-old saw just one minute of work in Friday's loss to the Houston Rockets before he exited because of dislocated right index finger. Fortunately, the start of the 2023-24 campaign is months away, so Johnson should be good to go by then, barring a significant setback. However, he hasn't done much during his time in Portland, so his fantasy stock won't be impacted either way.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Keon Johnson (finger) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. It appears Johnson fractured his finger during pregame shootaround. A tough blow to the Blazers who are already extremely shorthanded heading into this game. Now, Shaedon Sharpe will start and have a bigger role in the rotation. He's well worth looking at as a streaming option with the Blazers not having many options to turn to right now.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Keon Johnson (hip) is available for Thursday's game against the Denver Nuggets. This will be the first time that Johnson has played since November 5th. The expectation is that the Blazers are going to limit him during his first game back. Johnson could see more minutes going forward with Nassir Little (hip) sidelined, but it's not enough to warrant rostering Johnson in most fantasy formats.
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Keon Johnson (hip) is available for Thursday's clash with New Orleans. The 20-year-old has missed a pair of games with a hip pointer issue. Johnson had just started to log some decent minutes before getting injured, and he could have a significant role Thursday night with Damian Lillard rested. The Blazers also have Jusuf Nurkic (groin) and Jerami Grant (ankle) questionable for the game, and their absence would give a further boost to Johnson and the rest of the bench mob.
The Trail Blazers picked up the 2023-24 option on guard Keon Johnson. The 20-year-old began last season with the Clippers but was traded to Portland ahead of the deadline. In his 22 appearances for the Trail Blazers, he averaged 9.7 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. The former first-round pick will likely remain buried on the depth chart this season, although he may get a few chances to start. However, while Johnson should stay stashed on dynasty squads, he shouldn't have a place on teams in redraft or category formats.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Keon Johnson continued his strong Summer League play during Thursday's 85-77 win over the Houston Rockets. He shot 8-for-13 from the field, 4-for-8 from three-point range and 5-for-6 from the line in the game. He scored a game-high 25 points while also adding four rebounds and an assist. Johnson has averaged 17.3 points per game over four Summer League contests. The 20-year-old found some playing time down the stretch as a rookie last year and showed some promising flashes. He's probably not someone worthy of fantasy consideration if the Blazers enter the year fully healthy, but at the very least he's someone worth keeping an eye on.
