One of the players the Celtics were believed to be interested in to fill out their frontcourt depth is now off the market.
Chris Johnson, 26, who played in four games with the Celtics last season, signed with the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday. Johnson was waived by the Trail Blazers on March 15 and Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters his team might be interested in the second-year player.
The Hornets did not announce the terms of the deal.
The Celtics' options to add a big man after the trade deadline continue to dwindle. J.J. Hickson was reportedly close to a deal with the Warriors, but signing him would have been problematic for the Celtics regardless. Ronny Turiaf is said to still be on the Celtics' radar, but Turiaf does not provide the rebounding and defensive help Boston needs.
Johnson, a 6-foot-11 LSU product, returns to the state where he attended college.
