Official waiver in Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks have waived guard Keon Johnson effective September 24, leaving him without an NBA team after an official waiver that confirms his exit from the main roster. The move fits Atlanta's usual sign-and-waive pattern with development profiles before preseason.
The transaction appears in NBA.com oficial and was picked up by Hoops Rumors, which notes Johnson had signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Atlanta on Wednesday before the waiver and that the organization retains his G League rights.
Johnson's profile
Johnson, a 23-year-old guard selected 19th in the 2021 draft, previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets before spending last season in the G League with the Maine Celtics. His NBA track record marks him as an athletic perimeter player with transition upside.
Hoops Rumors adds that after leaving the main roster, Johnson is expected to report to affiliate College Park Skyhawks, while remaining eligible for a future call-up by the Hawks.
What the waiver means
By leaving the Hawks roster, Johnson vacates a preseason spot and becomes a free agent until his next destination is settled. The move does not necessarily end his relationship with Atlanta, but follows the usual Exhibit 10 path toward the G League.
For the Hawks, the waiver frees a preseason roster spot as the franchise trims its backcourt after completing the trade for Dorian Finney-Smith and reaching the 15-man standard-contract limit.
Roster context
Johnson's waiver came on September 24, one day after his Exhibit 10 signing, in the procedural movement window before preseason. Atlanta has used the same approach with other non-guaranteed profiles earmarked for the development pipeline this month.
