ROUND 1: AJ Johnson - Poll Added

[theFireBlanket]

Sounded like AJ won't keep 77 for the RS.

He wanted #6 but was told its already taken.

[blennz]

Sounded like AJ won't keep 77 for the RS.

He wanted #6 but was told it’s already taken.

he said he’s getting number 7 even though Chris Livingston has it. Here is where he said it https://youtu.be/HKEOxTmQyic?si=nvbqK-nfpZ7UZFUU

[Prez]

I'm watching this workout vid of him w/ Alfonso Mckinnie and some other dude that plays overseas and AJ looks like he's moving at 1.5x speed compared to them while not really even trying that hard lol. He honestly might be the most naturally talented player we've drafted in years, just raw and needs to add a bit of weight. But 6'5" with serious explosiveness, handles, decent shot fundamentals is more than I can say for any of our recent draft picks.

Get him in the weight room with Giannis, have him working with Dame every day, and I'm kinda excited to see what he turns into in year 3, 4, etc.

[AussieBuck]

I feel like nobody's posted his combine scrimmage games if anybody wants to dive in. So here ya go:

Watch on YouTube

^^^^
1st game of the day, starts, #1 on gray team

Watch on YouTube

^^^^
2nd/last game of the day, still gray team, comes off the bench.

Watching now. Kid has a bunch of SGA about him.

[M-C-G]

Seems like two different players from the NBL to combine scrimmage. Might speak to his versatility or growth of his game? Certainly looks like he has the frame to add just don’t add so much weight that you lose that special speed

[Bernman]

When I watched the scrimmages at the time I just caught parts of his performance because I wasn't focused on him. Still was more impressed w/ AJJo than a good majority of players.

2nd time thru, when I just focused on him, actually raised his stock, cuz I noticed more off ball, & it was elite. Activity w/ mostly achievement. Similar movement to Donte. The only difference was he was reluctant to mix it up on account of the strength.

You could envision how that can grow in time for him to be great off ball defensively. Off ball offensively he's smart too. Very adaptable to playing either on or off. He was a hybrid. Bronny making it about himself hurt AJJo in the 2nd game (still solid).

[landoc88]

If he hits is potential he screams Zach Lavine

[M-C-G]

If he hits is potential hea screams Zach Lavine

Interesting comp. I do like the more people are watching him the more they are liking.

[landoc88]

If he hits is potential hea screams Zach Lavine

Interesting comp. I do like the more people are watching him the more they are liking.

I'm going just by body type and atheticism by watching his videos on you type that's who I think he reminds me of.

[soxperry]

I feel like nobody's posted his combine scrimmage games if anybody wants to dive in. So here ya go:

Watch on YouTube

^^^^
1st game of the day, starts, #1 on gray team

Watch on YouTube

^^^^
2nd/last game of the day, still gray team, comes off the bench.

Watching now. Kid has a bunch of SGA about him.

yeah there's some SGA and some Maxey as well. It's very clear why Doc likes him given those two comps.

[Balls2TheWalls]

When I watched the scrimmages at the time I just caught parts of his performance because I wasn't focused on him. Still was more impressed w/ AJJo than a good majority of players.

2nd time thru, when I just focused on him, actually raised his stock, cuz I noticed more off ball, & it was elite. Activity w/ mostly achievement. Similar movement to Donte. The only difference was he was reluctant to mix it up on account of the strength.

You could envision how that can grow in time for him to be great off ball defensively. Off ball offensively he's smart too. Very adaptable to playing either on or off. He was a hybrid. Bronny making it about himself hurt AJJo in the 2nd game (still solid).

I went back and watched and the coverage was painful. Regularly zooming in on Bronny only while the game was going on, using half of the screen to show video of Lebron in the stands, and showing highlight reels of guys not in the game during the game.

Johnson did what he could. He was one of very few players on the court not playing to get their own shot. Bronny was never the best point guard on the floor, but still took most of the usage and shots any time he was on the floor. It looked like Johnson struggled to know when he had beaten a guy laterally so that he could just get directly to the hoop. No one passed to him while he was standing open at the 3 point line, so it was difficult to tell how he would look in a catch and shoot situation. He was moving incredibly well off of the ball, however. He got beat for speed quite a bit by KJ Simpson defensively. I was hoping he would have the feet to stay in front on that matchup.

He definitely looked better that I expected, but the name of the game for a lot of the players was to soak up usage (Bronny especially). It was nice to see that he was not on the court hunting his own shot. I would like to see what he looks like in summer league when he can run offense based in making better decisions, with a possible mandate on him running offense for himself.

[M-C-G]

Very excited for summer league, hoping they play AJJo on ball a lot but if AJG, AJJ, Smith all play it should be pretty entertaining

[fansinceforever]

I just get the feeling this kid's gonna be pretty good. Tyler too

[Bernman]

Spoiler:

I went back and watched and the coverage was painful. Regularly zooming in on Bronny only while the game was going on, using half of the screen to show video of Lebron in the stands, and showing highlight reels of guys not in the game during the game.

Johnson did what he could. He was one of very few players on the court not playing to get their own shot. Bronny was never the best point guard on the floor, but still took most of the usage and shots any time he was on the floor. It looked like Johnson struggled to know when he had beaten a guy laterally so that he could just get directly to the hoop. No one passed to him while he was standing open at the 3 point line, so it was difficult to tell how he would look in a catch and shoot situation. He was moving incredibly well off of the ball, however. He got beat for speed quite a bit by KJ Simpson defensively. I was hoping he would have the feet to stay in front on that matchup.

He definitely looked better that I expected, but the name of the game for a lot of the players was to soak up usage (Bronny especially). It was nice to see that he was not on the court hunting his own shot. I would like to see what he looks like in summer league when he can run offense based in making better decisions, with a possible mandate on him running offense for himself.

He got beat to the hoop a few times, but I thought it was due to anticipating the pick however the ball-handler rejected it. On the whole he did well on d (Spencer was in jail), including pick navigation, maybe cuz he got head starts.

About summer league, scrimmages are historically a superior gauge, & I think we saw in those games it was much more organized, halfcourt. He should thrive in fullcourt summer league, but I'm more interested in if he's physical enough against older guys.

[Balls2TheWalls]

He got beat to the hoop a few times, but I thought it was due to anticipating the pick however the ball-handler rejected it. On the whole he did well on d (Spencer was in jail), including pick navigation, maybe cuz he got head starts.

About summer league, scrimmages are historically a superior gauge, & I think we saw in those games it was much more organized, halfcourt. He should thrive in fullcourt summer league, but I'm more interested in if he's physical enough against older guys.

I think that KJ Simpson got him a few times honestly. I agree that he was trying to navigate screens a few times and got them rejected and still did well to trail and get back into plays.

I don't disagree about the scrimmages being a good half court assessment. The problem is that Bronny was clearly given 7 green lights, and Johnson was not playing to create shots for himself. He was making the correct passes to the roll man and the corners/break. I am interested to see how he plays against the summer league players as far as strength, and if he has more scoring instinct when the coaches tell him to shoot/play for his own usage.

[Bobicous]

Another workout video

Watch on YouTube

[AussieBuck]

PG of the future. I am ready overhype a new guard.

[Illawarra_Buck]

PG of the future. I am ready overhype a new guard.

Ceiling Derrick Rose,
Floor Cortez Groves.

Glad someone here will get it.

[MVP2110]

Read on Twitter

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[SupremeHustle]

Read on Twitter

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Would be hilarious if that's why they picked him.