The Hornets have claimed Chris Johnson off waivers from the Trail Blazers, the team announced today in a press release. Portland waived Johnson along with Greg Oden last week to make room for the players they acquired in separate trades with the Rockets and Nets.
New Orleans is over the salary cap, but was able to claim Johnson because he's on a minimum-salary contract. The Hornets will take on the big man's $762,195 cap figure, taking it off the Blazers' books. Because the Hornets had a pair of open roster spots, following the expiration of Jeff Foote's 10-day contract, they won't have to make a corresponding move to clear room for Johnson.
Johnson, 26, signed 10-day contracts with the Blazers and Celtics last season before agreeing to a contract for the rest of last season and this season with Portland. In 20 games for the Blazers this year, the former LSU Tiger averaged 1.6 points and 0.9 rebounds in just 4.7 minutes per contest.