The Charlotte Hornets have reached an agreement with forward Keyontae Johnson, according to his agency, Priority Sports. The specifics of the contract have not been disclosed, but it is expected to be either non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed.
At 24 years old and standing 6-foot-5, Johnson had a brief stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, appearing in nine games where he averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds. He was selected as the 50th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and signed a two-way contract with the Thunder around a year ago. Johnson spent the majority of his rookie season in the G League with the OKC Blue, where he posted impressive stats, including 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, along with a shooting percentage of 53% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc.
The Hornets currently have an open roster spot and an available two-way contract slot, suggesting Johnson will compete for one of these positions. It is possible that Johnson may join the team on an Exhibit 10 contract, which is often used to bring players into training camp with a chance to make the final roster.
Charlotte’s roster now includes 14 players on standard contracts, with 13 of those contracts guaranteed. Recent trades and roster moves have seen the Hornets acquiring former Oklahoma City players like Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, and Davis Bertans. However, only Mann and Micic will remain on the roster next season, while the addition of Johnson helps fill out the team’s lineup.
In related news, Charlotte has undergone significant changes recently, including hiring Charles Lee as their new head coach to replace Steve Clifford after a challenging 21-61 season. The Hornets have been seeking to improve their performance and make a playoff push, as they have not reached the postseason since the 2015-16 season.