Trail Blazers Exercising Option on Keon Johnson

The Trail Blazers are exercising the 2023-24 rookie-scale option on shooting guard Keon Johnson, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Johnson, 20, is 6-foot-5 and was originally drafted by the Knicks out of Tennessee with the No. 21 overall pick in 2021. He was immediately traded to the Clippers.

He appeared in 12 games with the Clippers, then 22 more with the Blazers after a February trade. He seemed to rise after arriving in Portland, averaging 9.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds, shooting 36 percent from the field.

Clearly, he is part of the Blazers’ future, as Johnson seems to be making an impact in reserve.