ROUND 1: AJ Johnson - Poll Added

[DutchManDanFan]

This is a fundamentally unserious draft pick. The Bucks need people who can play *now*. The obvious choice is to pick a guy who averaged 3 points in the Australian league.

3 points a game, wow, he must be very talented. I would never achieve that.

[ShootingtheJ]

he does seem like a nice kid

Read on Twitter

would be thrilled to be wrong about it being a waste of a pick

He didn't cry. That's a great sign.

Every pick we've made that cried ended up being a bust.

Love his confidence going there and sitting in the stands. There's something to him.

That wasn't confidence. He knew the Bucks were taking him.

[ShootingtheJ]

Player comp for him is easy, he's a clone of his workout partner, Jalen Green, but with less physical gifts.

[Illawarra_Buck]

The situation:
AJ arrived at a Hawks club in turmoil. It's actually usually a benefit for a Next Star signing to end up at a **** club for guaranteed mins and opportunity - see Melo. We were definitely **** - make no mistake about that.

Unfortunately, coming off the back of a 3-25 season, no one was under more pressure than coach Jakomas. Can I blame the bloke? Nah, it was his livelihood afterall and he clearly thought the best pathway to his continued employment was to go with a lower risk, conservative approach. Maybe grind out a few wins.

Expectations were low. About as low as you could get really. Truthfully no one would have been surprised to see Jakomas' contract extended if we could just scrape our way to 2nd last.

It was in this context that gun sniper and combo guard Tyler Harvey was moved off ball. Ex 2-way Buck Justin Robinson returning from injury was given the reigns as the steady, experienced hand that was to keep coach JJ in a job.

Lack of opportunity for AJ was one of the things that had fans most perplexed. There was also a sense that powers that be in the league weren't happy. Why would young players commit to be Next Stars over college only to get zero burn?

Justin Tatum (Jayson's dad for those not up to date) took over mid season and got to work fiddling with the rotation. As the season turned around, Robinson was relegated to the bench role and there were back court minutes to be had. All of a sudden the conversation was about playoff rotation rather than player development. Ultimately those spare minutes increasingly became allocated to fan favourite Swiss army knife and ultimate glue guy, Will "Davo" Hickey. No one doubts this was a good idea, Hickey's D, hustle and one memorable O board, put back buzzer beater were integral to the fairytale run.

From what we saw, I don't think anyone doubts that AJ could have contributed as a rotation player but without coach Jakomas carving out a role for him early, he was just too young and unfamiliar with systems to be considered for available minutes over more experienced heads, especially as it started look as though we may be a post-season team.


His game:
I watched him scrimmage quite a few times when the Hawks were training at the Snakepit. You hear about his speed, smoothness and athleticism but you actually might not believe it til you see it ... he's fast, in kind of an indescribable way. He creates transition from nothing. Blink and it's over.

His shooting mechanics aren't great. Like everything he does, he gets it off super quickly with seeming ease but it definitely starts low and comes off up off the hip a bit.

The body is the big question mark. He has the right dimensions but the guy is pencil thin. He'd be absolutley bullied in the NBA. The question is to what degree can he bulk up without losing the remarkable aspects of his game.

He won't be slowing down wings any time soon - I saw Gary Clark feast on him during scrimmage a few times. But fronting up to seasoned professional guards like Harvey and Robinson he was able to hold his own. He definitely lacks the strength to fight through screens at the moment.

If i squinted maybe he didn't look totally like a boy playing amongst grown men ... maybe.

Stuff like this is what makes this forum a special place.

Thanks mate.

For what it's worth, as a long time reader-new poster, I appreciate the **** outta this joint. Definitely some excellent basketball minds and passionate fellow Bucks fans.

Another thing to add. AJ was definitely well regarded around the club and Wollongong as a person. I know that's a kinda generic statement but as a small market, community-centred club we have a history of not tolerating ego and braggadocio.

American imports who are a bit big for their boots aren't well recieved here.

[randy84]

Justin Tatum (Jayson's dad for those not up to date) took over mid season and got to work fiddling with the rotation. As the season turned around, Robinson was relegated to the bench role and there were back court minutes to be had. All of a sudden the conversation was about playoff rotation rather than player development. Ultimately those spare minutes increasingly became allocated to fan favourite Swiss army knife and ultimate glue guy, Will "Davo" Hickey. No one doubts this was a good idea, Hickey's D, hustle and one memorable O board, put back buzzer beater were integral to the fairytale run.

Sounds like Davo is a player. Maybe the Bucks should've drafted him instead.

[fansinceforever]

It's probable there was nobody left on the board that the Bucks thought had any chance in hell at actually playing for them. I mean, who got selected after this kid that can definitely play now?

It's entirely possible this kid puts a couple things together and is ready to contribute in a year. Who knows, maybe even sooner.

The Bucks obviously believe in AJG, AJJ and either Marjon or Livingston

[emunney]

Pulp Fiction prequel that is just 3 hours of Jules and Vincent talking about how Burger King is called Hungry Jack's in Australia

[ReasonablySober]

Gonna be fun to look back in a year and see which rookies played a positive role for their teams, which ones were a net negative, and which ones just barely played at all.

[Turk Nowitzki]

It's probable there was nobody left on the board that the Bucks thought had any chance in hell at actually playing for them. I mean, who got selected after this kid that can definitely play now?

Of course nobody knows that for sure but common thought was that TSJ was the guy sitting there for us that could've been as close to plug and play as we were going to get.

[fansinceforever]

It's probable there was nobody left on the board that the Bucks thought had any chance in hell at actually playing for them. I mean, who got selected after this kid that can definitely play now?

Of course nobody knows that for sure but common thought was that TSJ was the guy sitting there for us that could've been as close to plug and play as we were going to get.

This 23 year old? The Bucks probably don't think he's any better than AJ Green or Chris Livingston. I'm just not seeing the huge fail here.

[emunney]

It's probable there was nobody left on the board that the Bucks thought had any chance in hell at actually playing for them. I mean, who got selected after this kid that can definitely play now?

Of course nobody knows that for sure but common thought was that TSJ was the guy sitting there for us that could've been as close to plug and play as we were going to get.

You can't take TSJ there, ESPN had him 26

[j_hilge444]

It's probable there was nobody left on the board that the Bucks thought had any chance in hell at actually playing for them. I mean, who got selected after this kid that can definitely play now?

Of course nobody knows that for sure but common thought was that TSJ was the guy sitting there for us that could've been as close to plug and play as we were going to get.

This 23 year old? The Bucks probably don't think he's any better than AJ Green or Chris Livingston. I'm just not seeing the huge fail here.

People live in a fantasy world where they think a player taken at 23 in one of the weakest drafts in recent memory is going to contribute on a veteran team that already needs to further integrate some of the young players on the roster into the rotation.

Honestly, both of the Bucks picks are exactly what they should have done and I'm happy.

[Turk Nowitzki]

It's probable there was nobody left on the board that the Bucks thought had any chance in hell at actually playing for them. I mean, who got selected after this kid that can definitely play now?

Of course nobody knows that for sure but common thought was that TSJ was the guy sitting there for us that could've been as close to plug and play as we were going to get.

This 23 year old? The Bucks probably don't think he's any better than AJ Green or Chris Livingston. I'm just not seeing the huge fail here.

I didn't say anything about a huge fail. You asked who was selected after our pick who might be ready to play now so yes the 23 year old highly productive college player is almost certainly likely to be more ready to play now than a 19 year old project.

[ShootingtheJ]

The situation:
AJ arrived at a Hawks club in turmoil. It's actually usually a benefit for a Next Star signing to end up at a **** club for guaranteed mins and opportunity - see Melo. We were definitely **** - make no mistake about that.

Unfortunately, coming off the back of a 3-25 season, no one was under more pressure than coach Jakomas. Can I blame the bloke? Nah, it was his livelihood afterall and he clearly thought the best pathway to his continued employment was to go with a lower risk, conservative approach. Maybe grind out a few wins.

Expectations were low. About as low as you could get really. Truthfully no one would have been surprised to see Jakomas' contract extended if we could just scrape our way to 2nd last.

It was in this context that gun sniper and combo guard Tyler Harvey was moved off ball. Ex 2-way Buck Justin Robinson returning from injury was given the reigns as the steady, experienced hand that was to keep coach JJ in a job.

Lack of opportunity for AJ was one of the things that had fans most perplexed. There was also a sense that powers that be in the league weren't happy. Why would young players commit to be Next Stars over college only to get zero burn?

Justin Tatum (Jayson's dad for those not up to date) took over mid season and got to work fiddling with the rotation. As the season turned around, Robinson was relegated to the bench role and there were back court minutes to be had. All of a sudden the conversation was about playoff rotation rather than player development. Ultimately those spare minutes increasingly became allocated to fan favourite Swiss army knife and ultimate glue guy, Will "Davo" Hickey. No one doubts this was a good idea, Hickey's D, hustle and one memorable O board, put back buzzer beater were integral to the fairytale run.

From what we saw, I don't think anyone doubts that AJ could have contributed as a rotation player but without coach Jakomas carving out a role for him early, he was just too young and unfamiliar with systems to be considered for available minutes over more experienced heads, especially as it started look as though we may be a post-season team.


His game:
I watched him scrimmage quite a few times when the Hawks were training at the Snakepit. You hear about his speed, smoothness and athleticism but you actually might not believe it til you see it ... he's fast, in kind of an indescribable way. He creates transition from nothing. Blink and it's over.

His shooting mechanics aren't great. Like everything he does, he gets it off super quickly with seeming ease but it definitely starts low and comes off up off the hip a bit.

The body is the big question mark. He has the right dimensions but the guy is pencil thin. He'd be absolutley bullied in the NBA. The question is to what degree can he bulk up without losing the remarkable aspects of his game.

He won't be slowing down wings any time soon - I saw Gary Clark feast on him during scrimmage a few times. But fronting up to seasoned professional guards like Harvey and Robinson he was able to hold his own. He definitely lacks the strength to fight through screens at the moment.

If i squinted maybe he didn't look totally like a boy playing amongst grown men ... maybe.

Stuff like this is what makes this forum a special place.

Thanks mate.

For what it's worth, as a long time reader-new poster, I appreciate the **** outta this joint. Definitely some excellent basketball minds and passionate fellow Bucks fans.

Another thing to add. AJ was definitely well regarded around the club and Wollongong as a person. I know that's a kinda generic statement but as a small market, community-centred club we have a history of not tolerating ego and braggadocio.

American imports who are a bit big for their boots aren't well recieved here.

Great to hear. Character is the ultimate determining factor for projects like AJ. The next factor is the patience of the team.

[ShootingtheJ]

Of course nobody knows that for sure but common thought was that TSJ was the guy sitting there for us that could've been as close to plug and play as we were going to get.

This 23 year old? The Bucks probably don't think he's any better than AJ Green or Chris Livingston. I'm just not seeing the huge fail here.

I didn't say anything about a huge fail. You asked who was selected after our pick who might be ready to play now so yes the 23 year old highly productive college player is almost certainly likely to be more ready to play now than a 19 year old project.

Ryan Dunn is also plug and play.

[Bernman]

People live in a fantasy world where they think a player taken at 23 in one of the weakest drafts in recent memory is going to contribute on a veteran team that already needs to further integrate some of the young players on the roster into the rotation.

Honestly, both of the Bucks picks are exactly what they should have done and I'm happy.

This is living in a fantasy world that a guy drafted 36th who didn't even over-perform the pick that much hadn't just played meaningful minutes for us in the playoffs, as did an undrafted guy in his 2nd yr. That's true even if we wanted them to play more.

Just think what the 23rd pick could realistically do this season. Shannon would have had a higher chance, as an all-around collegiate physical force (unlike Jackson who scored 6 pts, had a broken jumper, was thin, & slow w/ the ball).

You even didn't limit it to the Bucks rather vet teams, as if we didn't also just see several squads have rookies drafted throughout the 1st rd of last draft contribute meaningfully to their runs.

And I don't even think it's that farfetched to believe Johnson will contribute anything meaningful his 1st season. Giannis & Jennings did as skinny, fast, ball-handling teens who were unimpressive overseas.

Also, beyond the desire to win now, we need to win a few yrs from now too. That's a counter-argument against the contingent who just wanted a win now guy w/ a role playing cap for their careers. But plenty of college vets are impact players in the NBA.

But some are trying to create this alternative reality to stifle any legit critique of leadership's decisions, & gaslighting people to think it's somehow being the voice of reason. That's all to common today.

[DanoMac]

People wanting us to draft a more "NBA ready" player are giving me serious 2020 & 2021 NFL Draft "must draft a WR in round 1 because of what Chase and Jefferson did" vibes.

Derrick Livelys don't just grow on trees. I love swinging for the fences here, especially in this weak draft.

[chonestown]

He was excluded from my board cause of his hairstyle... that DJ Wilson / Nwora hairstyle always triggers me the wrong way. I have never seen a good player with this hairstyle after Doctor J ... they always end up some dumb random guys who are out of the league in 2 years.

I am literally speechless. There should be a rule for every Bucks GM that if "your guy" you want to pick on the 1st round is not like Top 5 pick in the RealGM forum's collective mind ... just DON'T PICK HIM ...

The thing about a hair cut is that it can be changed.

[FrieAaron]

He was excluded from my board cause of his hairstyle... that DJ Wilson / Nwora hairstyle always triggers me the wrong way. I have never seen a good player with this hairstyle after Doctor J ... they always end up some dumb random guys who are out of the league in 2 years.

I am literally speechless. There should be a rule for every Bucks GM that if "your guy" you want to pick on the 1st round is not like Top 5 pick in the RealGM forum's collective mind ... just DON'T PICK HIM ...

The thing about a hair cut is that it can be changed.

The real question with all these kids is "is their heart in it?" Is he willing to get a haircut for increased basketball performance? It's a gamble, but maybe it will pay off.

[MiltownMadness]

Add to the scouting report:
+ Did not cry
- Haircut not Fotis approved