Name: Stanley Johnson DOB: 5/29/1996 (19) School: Arizona
Height: 6’6.5 Weight: 242 Projected Position: SF/SG
Wingspan: 6’11.5 Standing Reach: 8’6
2014-15 Stats:
13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 spg, 2.2 tpg (28.4 mpg)
44.6 FG%, 74.2 FT%, 37.1 3FG%, 55.1 TS%, 50.1 eFG%
26.6 USG%, 8.9 OREB%, 19.1 DREB%, 14.1 REB%, 14.7 TOV%, 3.2 STL%
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SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN
Offense
Perimeter Shooting
Considering that shooting was considered a weak point when Johnson was entering college last season, he made very good progress over the year. Johnson showed some consistency as a spot-shooter from behind the college arc, though he may need to make some adjustments for the NBA level. He does a good job getting square to the basket and into his motion quickly off the catch; Johnson has a pretty consistent, quick release with good rotation on his shot. He does need to make his shooting motion a bit quicker, and his release is low, in front of his forehead, making it difficult to get any shot without plenty of time and/or space. Johnson has the ability to hit shots off the catch or the dribble, and as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, he uses screens well to create needed space for his jumper, both in the mid- and long-range areas. He also does a good job using jab steps to create space to get his shot, with defenders having his ability to get to the basket in the back of their mind. As mentioned, Johnson has good range, and with his strength and motion, the transition to the NBA three-point line shouldn’t be tough. Johnson also showed pretty good shot selection, especially as he spent more time in the Arizona offense. He can hit the mid-range jumper off the dribble, both to his left and right, often using a strong crossover move to clear the original defender. Johnson needs to work on moving without the ball, both coming off screens to get open, as well as not taking wide circular paths to hit open space; there needs to be more purpose and crispness in his movement.
Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing
Johnson is an average ballhandler, with the ability to use both hands well, and able to get to the basket in either direction. Johnson has a quick first step to the basket, especially going to his right, and though he doesn’t have great acceleration once he gets by his man, he uses his strength well to muscle past help defenders. He needs to watch his control on drives to the basket, as he tends to put his head down and goes through defenders, and he hasn’t shown the ability or agility to maneuver consistently around the help, leading to many turnovers. Also, he has a tendency to get a bit sloppy with the ball as he gets into the lane. As mentioned, Johnson can drive in either direction to the basket well, though he is much smoother going to his right, and he has the ability to finish with either hand around the rim. He can have trouble finishing around the basket, especially with long defenders there, and instead of using his strength to go into shot-blockers, he gets forced away from the basket, where he throws up some wild shots. He needs to learn to use angles well around the basket to help him get good shots off when help defenders have rotated, as well as continuing to work on his short jumper/floater around the lane. Johnson has some advantages when he gets his defender in isolation, and though he doesn’t have great speed, his combination of strength and ballhandling skills allow him to create the space he needs to get to the basket, though he can settle too much for pull-up jumpers. Johnson has shown ability as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, though it is often to create space for his own shot. He does see the floor well, but his passes can be wild or he can be slow to make a decision. Johnson is better off using the screens to create space for his jumper, or if he gets a step, go to the basket, where he can draw more help defenders to him. Johnson needs to make sure to keep his head up so he can read the floor, as well as working on his ability to kick the ball out when the help rotates over. If Johnson can get some space going to the basket, he has the ability to be a strong finisher at the basket, with the ability to score through contact, but he needs to be more aggressive.
Post Offense
Though he didn’t go to it too often during the year, Johnson has the body and ability to post up smaller or similar-sized defenders. He uses his body well to back down defenders, and he shows good footwork as he makes his move, with the ability to finish effectively. He does need to watch for help defenders, but this an area that he could exploit more at the NBA level.
Free Throw Shooting
Johnson is a good free throw shooter, and he seemed to find a consistent stroke in the second half of last season. He has a consistent routine and motion, with good follow-through. Johnson does a very good job drawing contact when attacking the basket, getting out in transition, or grabbing offensive rebounds, and though he shot a lot of jumpers, he still got to the free-throw line at a 45.6 percent rate.
Defense
Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)
Johnson has the tools to be a very good perimeter defender, though he tends to have some poor lapses which negate a lot of the good he does. On the ball, he positions himself well and keeps a good defensive stance, with good lateral movement over short distances. He can be slow to react, and his foot speed isn’t enough to make up ground once he loses that step. Johnson does have the ability to pressure the ball, and his near seven-foot wingspan can be disruptive when guarding the ball. When forced to move laterally over longer distances, he can get his feet crossed, and he reacts poorly to changes in direction. Johnson needs to work on getting over screens; he has some trouble getting caught in screens, and has a tendency to look to go under screens. Johnson has quick hands, though he can get caught off-balance with his tendency to reach for the ball often. Off the ball, Johnson also positions himself well and he uses his length well to play passing lanes. He shows good awareness and his reaction time is much better off the ball. Johnson takes a lot of chances when playing off the ball, which is sometimes successful. He has a knack for seeing where a ballhandler is susceptible to his help, and he is quick to pounce on chances for a turnover. However, when the chances don’t pay off, he is left in very poor position, and his teammates need to scramble to make up for it. Johnson navigates through screens well off the ball, using his strength to fight through, especially in the lane area. Johnson does need to watch a tendency to cheat too much towards help position, as he often leaves shooters open on the perimeter, and if the pass is made out to his man, he becomes a victim of simple shot fakes as he rushes to try and make up ground. The physical ability and skill are there for Johnson to defend well at the NBA level, he just needs to be smarter and not always look to make a play.
Rebounding
Johnson is a very good rebounder for his size, tracking shots well, and using his strength well to create space. He is very good about maneuvering to the basket from the perimeter on the offensive glass, and he has a quick leaping ability which allows him to get to the ball ahead of others. He also has a quick second-jump ability, which he uses often, as he does have trouble converting his second-chance shots. Johnson also uses his strength well to rebound on the defensive end, getting into position quickly and going strong after the ball. He likes to push the ball himself in transition after grabbing a rebound, though as you’ll read below, it’s not a very good idea.
Transition
Johnson loves to get out in the open floor, and in many ways, it’s when he’s at his best, though he can try to do too much on his own. Johnson likes to push the ball himself, especially after he gets a rebound, but as in the halfcourt, he has a bad habit of putting his head down and just barreling into the transition defenders. If he gets the space, he finishes strong at the basket, but transition defenders just looked to crowd the lane, knowing he was going to try and go through him, leading to bad turnovers. Johnson is much better running one of the wings where he can take the ball of the dribble to the rim once the ballhandler draws defenders, or spot up behind the arc for a clean three-point look.
Intangibles/Summary
In terms of physical ability and skill, Johnson is one of the top players in this draft, and there is lot of potential left once he learns the game more. Johnson has an NBA-ready body, and at over 240 pounds, he can play a lot more physical than the average 19-year old small forward. He has improved his shooting ability since starting college, becoming a semi-reliable long-range shooter, as well as being able to hit off the dribble, and likely to improve as he matures. Johnson has the ballhandling ability to get to the basket, though he is a bit too careless and sloppy to consistently score right now. Also, with the strength he has, he should be a much better finisher around the basket. Johnson has some versatility to his offense, showing ability as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, or using his strength advantage to post up on the low blocks. He has a great knack for hitting the offensive boards, though again, he needs to work on finishing in traffic. Johnson likes to get out in transition, though his desire to push the ball himself leads to a lot of bad mistakes, and he is much better getting out on a wing and letting a smarter ballhandler move it up the floor. Defensively, Johnson does a lot of things well, and he can do a good job pressuring the ballhandler, but he has a tendency to always try and make a play instead of worrying about containing his man, which leads to more poor decisions and errors. The same happens off the ball, and while Johnson can wreak havoc when he looks to jump passing lanes or help on penetration, he also gets caught out of position, leaving his teammates to try and make up for it. Johnson has the physical tools to excel on both ends of the floor, but the days where he had his way with opponents who don’t have his physical ability is long gone. He needs to play smarter on the floor, though as he learns the game and adjusts to the next level, his desire to want to take over a game should help elevate him.
Draft Value: Mid to Late Lottery – #6-14
Johnson’s physical ability and skill on both ends of the floor, as well as his versatility, should make him a good fit for a lot of teams. In some ways, he is ready to step out on the floor for an NBA team and contribute right away, though a lot of his lapses will be tough for some coaches to handle early on. Still, there is so much to be excited about with Johnson’s game and potential, and his reputation as a hard worker, that he seems like a very safe pick, even for a player who just turned 19.
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