of portland trailblazers I’m not asking for help from an extra guard this season. The franchise kicks off his 2022-23 season with Damian Lillard, Anfanie Simmons, Josh Hart and Gary Payton II as his pieces in a clear rotation at his two smaller positions.
But what about Keon Johnson?
A young prospect has arrived at Norman Powell and Robert Covington’s deal los angeles clippers Held in February, it played a major role in the Blazers’ recent Summer League Championship.
Over the past week, Lillard and coach Chauncey Billups have both highlighted the 20-year-old as a standout player in preseason workouts, inspiring his growth and energy. Neither had to drop Johnson’s name, but clearly the young guard deserved praise.
Lillard:
“Keon Johnson has been the most impressive player from last year to this year, his development and the way he approached the game.
Billap:
“I think all the veterans realized he was here and trying to compete. He did everything I asked him to do.”
But it will be difficult to bring the ex-Tennessee product to the court this season. Lillard and Simmons can solidify as starters with locks on Hart and Payton II to get a decent amount of time off the bench.
Despite this obstacle, Johnson has viable skills to offer to this team. At 6’4″, the versatile guard boasts athleticism, explosiveness, scoring ability, defense, and spot handling and facilitation.
Progression of Johnson
Johnson appears to be high on the Clippers’ wish list for 2021. NBA draft nightprompting them to deal with new york knicks Move four spots to secure a young shooting guard with the 21st pick. And why? That her 41.5-inch vertical leap at the Combine would have prompted all 30 franchises to at least reconsider.
In 15 games with the Clippers, Johnson played just nine minutes a game.
Just days before the deadline, the Athletic Guard assigned to the Blazers alongside Eric Bledsoe, Justice Winslow and a second-round pick was given a chance when the Portland tank started rolling. He tallied 9.7 points, 2.2 boards, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals in 25 minutes, almost 35% from behind the arc in 22 games, as the Blazers dropped down the order.
Once the Blazers’ season ended in mid-April, Johnson got to work, Las Vegas Summer League Come early July and he was ready. Johnson averaged 14.2 points on his 33.3% shooting percentage from 3, 3.9 boards, 2 assists and 1.8 steals to win his league title in his second summer for the team.
On Monday’s Media Day, the sophomore shooting guards ran through their summer priorities, citing conditioning and improving off-court habits as key to becoming a better pro. He worked on body and defense, focusing on picking up players at 94 feet, using his natural instincts and his 6’7 wingspan to corral enemy defenders at the point of attack. rice field.
Working hard in the offseason is good, but how does this get him on the court?
Josh Hart on the move?
One way Johnson could have a chance to see the non-junk-hour minutes is a possible mid-season trade of Josh Hart’s expiring contract. Hart appears to be one of the main trade candidates on the roster. Offers a variety of valuable skills to the other 29 teams.
General manager Joe Cronin has said Hart will not be picking the player option for 2023-24 and should expect a pay rise due next summer as a result. So trading Hart for Small his forward or Center of Impact at Deadline is clearly a smart option as well as throttling the backlog of guards.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that Johnson can fill Hart’s 20- to 25-minute vacancy. Most of those minutes probably go to Peyton II, maybe Shadon Sharpe or Nasir Little. But it also opens the door for the Blazers’ coaching staff to at least give Johnson a serious look.
small forward
The Blazers don’t have a clear starting roster at small forward, but Little, Hart, Justice Winslow and Payton II are all positions to contribute and not exactly shallow positions. The problem is that Hart and Payton II will spend time in the backcourt, and Winslow could take power away from the forwards.
This opens up time behind Little, and Johnson is small at three standing 6’4, but his aforementioned 6’7 wingspan and raw athleticism might be enough to fill the gap in a pinch. Hmm. But this is up to the matchup and not putting Johnson on LeBron James.
Injury and load management
No one dares to intervene in this matter, but if an injury does occur and one or more of Lillard, Simmons, Hart, and Peyton II go down (hopefully not for a long time), the doors open. may open. Last season, Johnson showed his ability to play in the NBA’s Minutes even as his team struggled. If a player is temporarily injured, Billups may turn to Tennessee’s standout.
Depending on how well the Blazers start the season, the 32-year-old Lillard might get a chance to watch the game here and there. In this scenario, Simons could be pushed to his guard for a point and jump Johnson into the starting unit so as not to upset the rotation.
sharp vs johnson
One of the main factors preventing Johnson from playing meaningful minutes is the current state of the Blazers. The franchise seems intent on making last season’s Tankathon an isolated affair, with Cronin bringing in veterans Jerami Grant and Peyton II to help Lillard battle the Western Conference elite.
The prize this tank brought was Shaedon Sharpe, who was 7th overall pick, competing for a similar role in the rotation and also impressing by all reports. He’s unlikely to play two raw young prospects unless the team he’s trying to compete with can pick up speed quickly.
Honestly, based on the reported skillset and the assets the Blazers used to catch him, we have to assume Sharpe will get the first shot in the rotation minutes.
Johnson’s own notes on trade values
Hart’s name is likely to come up in trade discussions in late January/early February, but Johnson’s rookie-sized deal also makes him attractive for rebuilding franchises with gaps in their respective guard rotations. But he’ll probably need court time to make sure the Blazers get equal value in return.
Johnson’s meager $2.6 million deal (team options for 2023-24 and 2024-25) will almost certainly be limited as the Blazers are unlikely to bring back key players at similar prices. Perhaps pairing Johnson and Hart in a trade could be more successful, but this kind of deal also turns Portland’s guard backlog into a severe backcourt shortage.
Conclusion
Johnson has a future in the NBA. It’s unclear if he’s with the Blazers, and rave reviews about his progress on Media Day are promising, but the road to actual playing time will be a challenge.
A bad start to the franchise, injuries, trades, and an underwhelming Shadon Sharpe seem like the best means to his playing time. Great for him, but not for the Blazers.
But as Cronin and the Blazers continue to build this roster, it’s in their best interests to bring him on the court whenever the franchise can contribute to a win or increase his own trading value. is.
