Phoenix Suns: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2019-20

2. Cameron Johnson

When the Phoenix Suns traded the sixth overall pick on draft day, they bypassed drafting a cornerstone young point guard. Instead, the team opted to select North Carolina’s Cameron Johnson with the 11th selection.

Unlike the majority of the league’s rookies, Johnson enters the NBA with years of experience at the college level. At 23 years old, he is already older than Devin Booker and much of the Suns’ roster.

While that’s better than developing a teen-prospect, concerns stem from how Johnson will adjust at the pro level.

And there comes the high expectations based on Johnson’s draft day jump.

Entering the NBA draft he was slatted to go in the mid-to-late first round, but came away as a lottery selection by the Suns. To make matters worse, Johnson was unable to play during Summer League due to a delay on the trade between Phoenix and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But it can’t be overlooked that Johnson brings some much needed shooting to the Suns.

He was among the top shooting prospects of his class and shot 45.7 percent from deep during his senior season with the Tar Heels. That will be one place where Phoenix desperately needs help.

The Suns finished last season dead last in 3-point shooting (32.9 %) and struggled to find offense from the bench unit.

Should Johnson deliver in his rookie season, that would give the Suns yet another piece in a developing young core. Should it result in an opposite outcome, many will be quick to criticize both Johnson and team that selected him.

Johnson will face lots of challenges during his rookie year, but perhaps the largest will be the pressure to perform to his draft slot.