Phoenix Suns in front of Cameron Johnson Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that he had surgery to remove a portion of the meniscus in his right knee, a procedure that could allow him to return in one to two months.
It was unclear until the operation whether Johnson needed more extensive repairs that would have ended his season. Johnson had a similar surgery on his left knee during his senior season at North Carolina in 2017 and returned in five weeks.
Johnson was injured last week in a game against Portland Trail Blazers, interrupting a strong start to the season. He’s been averaging a career-best 13 points per game and hitting a career-high 43% coming on in this year’s starting lineup.
The timeline is not welcome news for the Sun, who thins forward with veterans Jae Crowder Leave the group until the transaction can be done.
Despite Johnson’s injury, the situation with Crowder is unlikely to change, and there are no current plans for him to return to the team, sources said.
Johnson, a defensive and shooting specialist, and the Suns were unable to come to terms with a contract extension last month, and he will become a restricted free agent next summer.
