Weaknesses
The 6’7″ small forward has a lot of great traits, but the fact remains: he’s still an extremely young, raw product.
He does draw fouls and go to the line a fair amount, but his efficiency in the paint is absolutely pedestrian. He converted on just 40 percent of his field goals from the paint in college.
His inability to convert at an efficient rate in the paint goes hand-in-hand with his lack of consistency and decision making. He has a tendency to have tunnel vision as a passer and doesn’t remain locked in defensively for an entire game.
In his last three collegiate games, which were all during the NCAA Tournament against the best of the best, he shot just 7-of-26 from the field. That poor finish to his collegiate career is what likely led to a dip in his draft stock.
Like World Peace before him, he does not possess an amazing vertical. Johnson’s game is bully ball, and he prefers crashing at defenders to score, rather than using athleticism. In other words, his athleticism is not eye-popping and it will be considered below-average at the NBA level.
Final Word
Like just about any NBA draft prospect in history, Johnson has his strengths and his flaws. But the fact remains that this kid is still just 18 years old and could immediately start on an NBA squad or be a sixth man off the bench for a playoff team.
Of all the prospects that are projected to be selected around the No. 10 spot, Johnson fits the Heat’s needs the most. Miami needs an offensive option off the bench or a small forward capable of locking down on defense while scoring every now and then.
The University of Arizona product has those exact traits the Heat are looking for.
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