Johnson earns 15th and final roster spot

Armon Johnson is staying with the Portland Trail Blazers.

After battling with Patty Mills during NBA Summer League action for a roster spot, Johnson signed a contract with the team Monday.

Per organizational policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

With the signing, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound rookie guard from Nevada becomes the 15th and final player on the Blazers’ roster.

“We feel Armon can help this team and are excited to have him on board,” Portland general manager Rich Cho said in a prepared statement. “He’s a physical guard who can defend, and we like his potential.”

The Blazers selected Johnson with 34th overall pick during the 2010 NBA Draft. Portland traded up from the 44th slot so it could acquire him, and the team reportedly paid $2 million to Golden State for the pick.

That, combined with Johnson’s defensive potential, made him a likely choice to make the team.
Johnson’s bulky frame and aggressive playing style drew comparisons to Blazers coach Nate McMillan’s playing days. And Johnson is expected to provide Portland with a third-string point guard whose assets will complement but not replicate those of Andre Miller and Jerryd Bayless.

Johnson, 21, played three years in college for the Wolf Pack, averaging 14.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

He then topped Portland with 33.2 average minutes and 2.2 steals per game during Summer League, while averaging 11.6 points and 4.2 assists.

However, Mills also had a strong showing during Summer League, and the Blazers spent more than two weeks making a decision about which player would make the cut.