Arizona's Stanley Johnson Could End Up Home In L.a.

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/featur...los-angeles-lakers/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts

 

real, can you please specify S. Johnson or use his first name in your mock rosters because seeing "Johnson" as starting SF is just too much to handle.

 

I tend to like 2-way players like Johnson. Regardless of position. Especially since you need 2-way wings to defend the likes of KD, Lebron, Melo, etc. Johnson's size (6'6) also makes him a great team-defense prospect since he can switch with Randle or Kobe.

That being said, we also need a big man, and they don't come cheap on the free agent market. Even a guy like Cauley-Stein would cost way more $$ if we had to buy him on the open market.

If the FO is set on acquiring a big through FA, then I'm fine with picking up guys like Johnson in the draft.

 

If Towns, Okafor, and Mudiay are off the board, I'd have absolutely no problem with us drafting Johnson. Luckily the people making the decisions have well trained eyes, because from what I've seen, choosing between the top 3 wings is a crapshoot. We know Johnson is a solid 2 way SF, but outside of that, he seems like an intelligent kid on and off the court. He's well spoken. He's good at identifying what he needs to work on and improving. He's a LA kid, loves the Lakers, would love to be a Laker, and has the Kobe workout seal of approval. If we consider the top wings close to equal on the court, I don't see how those intangibles don't give Johnson the edge.

The 1 real concern I have isn't about Johnson in particular, but drafting any wing. I don't think it says anything positive about the rest of our offseason. If we thought we had any real chance at Butler/Kawhi/Middleton, I don't think we'd draft a SF top 5. Assuming those guys are out & we took Johnson, we basically have our starters at every position except C, & the closest thing to a sure thing in that lineup is a 2nd year Clarkson. We know we have little to no chance at M. Gasol, LMA can play C but doesn't like it at all(that's why Lopez was such a big addition), Jordan at the max, role players in Asik, Lopez, and Biyombo(at least a young role player).

With so much cap space remaining and no big names added, I don't see how we don't make the nightmare of many posters a reality and sign Rondo. Unless they're willing to risk sending Randle to the bench or trading him, that's probably the highlight reel of our offseason, with the rest of the space used on backups like Ed Davis & whoever is left after the top 2 or 3 tiers of SF's get paid.

Not exactly the fireworks some of us hope for, but it could very well be reality.

 

I like Johnson, but I'd probably take Winslow or Henzonja presently before Johnson provided their workouts come in and they do well.

 

Can you guys go back and delete all the trash about Mike Brown on here at least until we sign this kid? Every little bit helps, just sayin.

 

The trash said about and earned by Mike Brown or the trash in the Lakers history that was Mike Brown?

 

Stop that. It's just one more thing to delete! Like a father he said.

 

Oh I see what you're saying. Meh..... he's not a free agent we have to court and woo. If we keep the pick and the Lakers want him they'll take him and he'll put the goofy looking baseball cap on and will have no say in the matter but undoubtedly be thrilled.

 

Not to mention are we sure we want a kid who seems a wee bit ungrounded in reality?

Arizona's Stanley Johnson: 'I'm the best player in the draft'
by Chris Walder May 14, 2:40 PM


Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
While several NBA mock drafts have Arizona's Stanley Johnson being selected early on, they don't project him as the No. 1 overall pick.

DraftExpress.com has Johnson going to the Charlotte Hornets with pick No. 9, while Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports sees him landing with the Detroit Pistons one pick earlier.

That may not sit well with Johnson, who truly believes he's the best overall player in this year's draft class, as he told the media at the draft combine Thursday.

Why should an NBA team draft you, Stanley Johnson? "Because I'm the best player in the draft."

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 14, 2015
Johnson averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in his only season with the Wildcats. He declared his draft eligibility in a press conference April 23.

ESPN's Chad Ford has Johnson ranked 11th on his top-100 draft board.

Johnson's ability to defend multiple positions will make him a valuable commodity at the pro level. He's extremely athletic, with the physical tools to be an above-average defender. If he's focused, he can develop into a very dangerous player.

http://www.thescore.com/ncaab/news/764638

 

uh, I'm a big zona fan. and I'm a big fan of confidence as it applies to athletic competition. but that's crazy talk, Stanley.

 

i'd definitely prefer russell or mudiay

 

I could easily see Johnson being a better pro than either, but yes, it would be hard to take him over those guys (or winslow, wcs, hezonja).

 

Wow...shocked to learn that he said that. Well then, he's got a lot to prove, especially after an underwhelming tourney performance. He has worked out with Kobe. Maybe that's some Kobe influence on him. Also, he's a smart kid who knows he needs to climb in the draft. A little self-promotion can't hurt if some think he's not aggressive enough.

 

Sure. But. Maybe more realistic choice of words in expressing that confidence. But no, not a problem really long as he keeps getting better and working toward the level of play he believes he can obtain in the pros.