Clippers: They move up to take Tennessee guard Johnson 21st.
The Clippers traded up four spots to grab a guy who can get up — way, way up — in Thursday’s NBA Draft. Then they added a lateblooming point guard who has navigated an unlikely path to the pros.
L.A. acquired Tennessee shooting guard Keon Johnson with the 21st pick via the New York Knicks, to whom L.A. traded the 25th pick in Thursday’s draft — Houston guard Quintin Grimes — and a second-round 2024 pick from Detroit, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi and a league source.
Then the Clippers traded a 2026 second-round pick (also via Detroit) and cash to Orlando for the Magic’s 33rd pick to acquire Jason Preston, a 6-foot-4 guard who was one of college basketball’s breakout stars last season. His 31-point, eightassist, no-turnover showing against Illinois in November “put the world on notice,” as he put it, before he went on to lead Ohio to an upset victory over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.
Johnson, 19, is an explosive athlete who set an NBA Combine record with a 48inch vertical leap.
He’s also an avid fisherman — like Clippers star Paul George, with whom he shares an agent, CAA’s Aaron Mintz.
A 6-5, 186-pound native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Johnson said in a predraft video that he models his game after the Clippers’ other star, Kawhi Leonard — the five-time All-NBA selection who can opt out of the last year of his current contract next season, when he will miss an undetermined amount of time next season rehabbing after undergoing surgery on July 13 for a partially torn ACL.
“Me and him resemble each other a lot, as far as on the defensive end; he can defend multiple positions,” Johnson said of Leonard in the clip posted by the NBA.
Johnson drove home that point during a quick session with reporters after hearing his name called 21st at the draft, which was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“I’m defensive-minded first,” he said. “Defense opens up my offensive game. The more stops that I get on defense, the more that I fuel on the offensive end . ... I feel that my defensive ability is what brought me to the league. But I also believe that within the league I’ll be able to guard multiple positions and fit in anywhere on the court with the Clippers.”
Although Johnson shot just 27.1% from 3-point range in college, he said Thursday that he’s confident his offensive chops will help the Clippers, saying he’ll hit open shots, get to the rim and be able to make plays: “On the offensive end, I can play in the half-court but also can handle the ball in the open court and facilitate for my teammates, as well.”
Johnson made the 2021 SEC All-Freshman Team after averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 27 games.
His mom Conswella Johnson (née Sparrow) was a twotime All-SEC women’s basketball player at Auburn. On ABC on Thursday, she commended her son for his work ethic and “playing till the buzzer stops.”
With that in mind, Johnson said he’s eager to get started.
“I do believe I can come in and make an immediate impact as a younger player,” Keon Johnson said. “I’m open to learning from the vets. Got some great vets in the organization, and I feel that with bringing me that I can potentially help the team get back to where it started.”