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Yesterday's trade reduced the Celtics roster size down to 13 players, which is even one less with Kieth Bogans excused from the team. They are in need of some live bodies, if only for emergency depth situations and practice players.
Looks like Danny Ainge is looking for at least a short term solution to that issue by looking to the D-League.
RGV Vipers forward Chris Johnson has traveled to Boston to be part of workout w/ Celtics, source tells Yahoo. Good chance at a 10-day deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 16, 2014
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This isn't the same Chris Johnson that spent a few games with the Celtics back in 2010-11. That guy was taller. This one is a 6'6" small forward. Ridiculous Upside ranks him as the 4th best small forward in the D-League.
The Prospect Pyramid: RidiculousUpside.com's NBA D-League Small Forward Rankings - Ridiculous Upside
Chris Johnson, Rio Grande Valley Vipers: Johnson is one of the more efficient offensive players in the D-League, so it's a wonder why he hasn't received more call-up consideration this season. 2013-14 Stats: 19.4 points (47% from the field, 37% from deep), 2.5 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 blocks
He does have some NBA experience as well.
Boston Celtics rumors 2013: D-Leaguer Chris Johnson a candidate for 10-day contract | masslive.com
Johnson's NBA experience consists of eight games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. He averaged 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds over 12.8 minutes per game, shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from behind the arc. Eighteen of his twenty-five field goal attempts were from 3-point land.
He probably got his big shot after being seen at the recent D-League Showcase.
D-League Showcase essential for Vipers - The Monitor: Sports
Last season, current Viper Chris Johnson parlayed a strong Showcase performance into a pair of 10-day contracts with the Memphis Grizzlies. Johnson, who helped the Vipers to a second D-League championship last season and is averaging 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals this season, is another potential NBA pick-up again, the D-League’s 23rd ranked prospect.
Best of luck to Chris. He's probably not going to see much time behind Jeff Green and Gerald Wallace, but with trades happening and players being dismissed from the team for no apparent reason, I suppose anything could happen.
