CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The Island Storm has swapped forwards with the Cape Breton Highlanders, trading Chris Johnson for Shane Osayande.
Both players were protected by their respective teams but haven’t been signed. The deal was announced late Wednesday night.
“It’s one of these deals that I think hopefully makes both teams better,” said Storm head coach Tim Kendrick. “We’re trying to get a player in that really can help us in the front line right now.”
The Storm also sent its second-round pick in the upcoming National Basketball League of Canada draft. The team currently doesn’t have a selection in the draft.
Johnson, a North Preston, N.S., native, averaged 18 points, four rebounds and three assists in 34 games last season in his first year with the Storm.
Osayande, a six-foot-six forward from Toronto, averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 30 games with the Highlanders.
“Osayande is a big, strong, tough guy. I really like how tough and physical he is,” Kendrick said.
“He’s got a nice touch around the basket. He’s physical, but he also can step out and hit the three.”
Johnson was caught up a bit in a numbers game with some of the players the Storm signed at the wing positions.
“Chris had a good year for us . . . but we’ve got a number of guys that can play that two, three spot,” Kendrick said. “We felt we needed to get some guys who could boost the front court as well.”
The team ran through a number of forwards last season until it acquired Carl Hall, who is still in discussions to return to the Storm for the upcoming season.
The Storm has already announced six players have signed for training camp. They include forwards Kyle Arsenault, Russell Byrd, Sampson Carter and Dominic Shuler as well as guards Robbie Robinson and Daniel Gordon. Arsenault and Gordon are both Canadians and each team in the league must have five Canadians on their roster.
