LAS VEGAS – A self-professed thin man his whole life, Timberwolves forward Chris Johnson has shown up for Las Vegas Summer League play with at least 15 pounds of new muscle added on his skinny frame and a contract guaranteed in full for next season.
He's adjusting to each for the first time.
"I've been skinny my whole life," he said. "I'm just trying to get used to this extra weight."
Now at 6-11 and a whopping 230 pounds, Johnson is also adjusting to the knowledge he has $916,000 due him for this coming season after he knocked around Turkey, Poland, the NBA Development League and with three other NBA teams in the four years since he left Louisiana State.
At age 28, he now has a steady job, or at least a guaranteed payday after Wolves boss David Kahn signed the former 10-day contract signee without announcement for 2013-14 near the end of last season.
"It was quiet," Johnson said of one of Kahn's last official acts before he was replaced by Flip Saunders in early May. "It takes the pressure off a little bit. I can just focus on playing."
He is focused on trying to apply that new muscle and on Monday he did as the Wolves' starting center against a Phoenix team that started — and rode down the stretch — brothers and former lottery picks Marcus and Markieff Morris up front in the Suns' last-second 91-89 comeback victory.
Johnson played 20½ minutes, scored three points, had seven rebounds, two blocks, three assists and six personal fouls but didn't foul out because in summer-league you get 10.