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Nets waive former first-round pick as roster overhaul continues
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- Nets waive former first-round pick as roster overhaul continues
The post Nets waive former first-round pick as roster overhaul continues appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Brooklyn Nets waived guard Keon Johnson on Wednesday, continuing an offseason roster overhaul. Johnson joined the Nets on a two-way contract ahead of the 2023-24 campaign before signing a two-year, standard deal last offseason.
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The former Clippers first-round pick saw an expanded role on a tanking Brooklyn squad last season. He appeared in 79 games with 56 starts, averaging 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. While he impressed as a point-of-attack defender, he struggled from an efficiency standpoint offensively, shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three.
Johnson was one of several non-guaranteed Nets players on the roster bubble following the team's busy offseason.
Nets waive Keon Johnson amid roster surplus following busy offseason
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After making an NBA-record five first-round picks in June's draft and absorbing Terance Mann , Haywood Highsmith and Kobe Bufkin into cap space via salary dump trades, the Nets have 15 players on guaranteed contracts. Johnson was one of four Brooklyn players on a non-guaranteed contract alongside Jalen Wilson , Drew Timme and Tyrese Martin .
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While Johnson saw the most expansive role of the group last season, the Nets upgraded their shooting guard position with Mann and Highsmith. Both players are capable point-of-attack defenders and far superior three-point shooters. Bufkin is also projected to spend time at shooting guard this season, with rookies Egor Demin , Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf entering the mix at point guard.
With four years of NBA service, Johnson was also not eligible to sign another two-way contract.
After waiving Johnson, the Nets have 23 players under contract , including the unofficial signings of Ricky Council IV , Fanbo Zeng and Grant Nelson . NBA teams are allowed to carry 21 contracts at training camp, meaning several of Brooklyn's other non-guaranteed players could be on the chopping block in the next week.
Related: Nets' Michael Porter Jr. trade named one of offseason's most underrated moves
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