Wesley Johnson at the 2

[king125]

Unless Cousins or Favors falls to the 5th pick I dont see any reason or any player that should be drafted above Johnson. I know we are loaded at the 3 with Greene and Casspi (neither of which I want packaged and traded) so why couldn't the Kings play Johnson at the 2.

What is the big difference between Johnson and Turner? They are both 6'7 200 lbs yet Turner is considered a 2 and Johnson a 3. Johnson is actually a better shooter and although he can not create his own shot like Turner, he doesnt need to as much in our system. With Tyreke and Beno running the point we need pure shooters on this team and Johnson is a above average shooter. He is also a great non post rebounder (like Tyreke) and would help in that department. At the 5th pick he is by far the BPA and I think he would also make a great fit in our system. He would create the mis match backcourt we were hoping for with KMart, the only difference being he does not need the ball in his hands to do his work and would be an upgrade defensively. Plus he is not a question mark like (Aldrich, Monroe, etc..) and has shown to be an all around solid and efficient player.

Thoughts?

[cuad]

Only if we pull some trade to bring in a player that will make Spencer Hawes work. I'm tired of him having no competition.

[king125]

Evans/Beno
Johnson/Garcia
Greene/Casspi
Landry/?
Thompson/Hawes

[UKF]

Petrie will draft the best player available and it will most likely be Wesley Johnson. Just because we have some players that play the same position as him it wont deter how we draft. We would draft Johnson if he's available and put him at the three. Monroe might be the next best available.

[SacKingZZZ]

If Turner and Johnson actually do measure out similarly, well, I'll be shocked first of all, but there is still noticeable differences in what they do well. Sometimes what position somebody plays comes down to whether or not they can adequately defend it, and if you're playing anything from 2-4 Johnson can defend it.

I think the shot creating thing is a tad bit overblown, he has a decent step in juke jumper in the midrange area. Now what he won't do a lot of is create for others and at times he does fade into the backround, but the difference between a player like Favors doing it and a player like Johnson is at least Johnson can spot shoot better than anyone else in the lottery still making him a threat. It's one of the reasons I think he's a great fit next to Tyreke and for this team overall, he can be a threat while not necessarily forcing himself into the offense and he can further spread the floor for Tyreke while also taking on the teams best offensive player defensively. He also rebounds very well for a wing and has tremendous athleticism.

[SacKingZZZ]

Evans/Beno
Johnson/Garcia
Greene/Casspi
Landry/?
Thompson/Hawes

ICK! Landry and Thompson is just a no-no. Proven last year, doesn't need to be proven again and again. I really hope Westphal remembers how much more fluid this team looked with Hawes at C. Should still be this:

Beno
Evans
Johnson
Landry
Hawes

That team can really work. Would be awesome to acquire a paint enforcer but this team has some serious potential.

[mobiuseinz]

Farouq-Aminu guys after Wall and Favors he has the most upside and has the work ethic to prove it... he can be a better Josh Smith with a shot and not the low IQ

[RIPskaterdude]

Evans/Beno
Johnson/Garcia
Greene/Casspi
Landry/?
Thompson/Hawes

ICK! Landry and Thompson is just a no-no. Proven last year, doesn't need to be proven again and again. I really hope Westphal remembers how much more fluid this team looked with Hawes at C. Should still be this:

Beno
Evans
Johnson
Landry
Hawes

That team can really work. Would be awesome to acquire a paint enforcer but this team has some serious potential.

And what do we do with Casspi, Greene and Garcia? Don't need another SF...

[king125]

Offensively the 2 and 3 are very similar. I don't see why Johnson cant be a 2. Insane Mismatch potential on both end of the floor.

And hey SacKingZZZ...... I am not sold on Thompson being the starter. Depending on how the summer works out for both it could go either way.

Pretty diverse team, could play a lot of different lineups:

Evans- 1 or 2
Beno- 1 or 2
Johnson- 2 or 3
Garcia- 2 or 3
Casspi- 3
Greene- 3 or 4
Landry- 4
Thompson- 4 or 5
Hawes- 5

[SacKingZZZ]

Offensively the 2 and 3 are very similar. I don't see why Johnson cant be a 2. Insane Mismatch potential on both end of the floor.

And hey SacKingZZZ...... I am not sold on Thompson being the starter. Depending on how the summer works out for both it could go either way.

Pretty diverse team, could play a lot of different lineups:

Evans- 1 or 2
Beno- 1 or 2
Johnson- 2 or 3
Garcia- 2 or 3
Casspi- 3
Greene- 3 or 4
Landry- 4
Thompson- 4 or 5
Hawes- 5

Like I said before, depends on what you need at the time. I happen to think we have plenty primary ball handlers and play makers. With the talk of Landry playing some 3 we could even go super huge and pound the hell out of other teams on the boards with Evans, Johnson, Landry, Thompson, and Hawes. Honestly I see somebody being moved at some point, doesn't have to be this year, but we're coming up to the point where we have to start thinking about extending guys like Thompson, Greene, Hawes, etc.

Aminu could actually work as well with Landry and Hawes in the frontcourt. We might have plenty of shooting but it's a close call. Depends on how much Tyreke improves his jumper.

[SacKingZZZ]

And what do we do with Casspi, Greene and Garcia? Don't need another SF...

No, but we could use an "answer" at SF and I don't think we've found one yet. Maybe, but it's not looking that way to me. It's not out of the realm of possibility to find it in a deep draft and a top 5 pick however.

[RIPskaterdude]

We have two young players at SF already. I would rather let them play some more with Evans than pick another SF and have to fit all of them into our depth chart.

Gee, I can't wait to see another season of Thompson and Hawes!!

[Wolfay]

How are his ball-handling and shot-making abilities? Can he pass? I think those are the main things that separates a 2 from a 3.

From everything I read, Wes is a 3 (offensively at least).

[SacKingZZZ]

Shot making he's as terrific as any in terms of spot shooting from distance. He's not an elite ball handler but I wouldn't say he's terrible. He just doesn't really make plays like some others in this draft, but he's taller, longer, has better defensive potential, and better shooting however.

[rpa]

The problem here is that if you make Johnson the 2 (and Tyreke the 1) you then have a choice of Greene or Casspi at the 3. Of those 3 only ONE is a capable ball handler. To me, that's a recipe for disaster in the starting lineup. Johnson brings in everything we want out of a 3 (great shooting, solid defender, very athletic) but because of his poor ball handling he whiffs when it comes to being a 2 that can play next to Evans.

[longfellow44]

Wes Johnson will be a lesser version of Danny Granger. He's an ok passer a pretty solid threat from deep, good shot blocker for his position nice defender. Still not what I'd call a go to player in the Pros.

I think that Greene and Casspi will each bring us atleast 75% of what Johnson could bring the team. He's just not a good value pick for our team I would rather spend that pick in a way that better utilized our assets.

[king125]

Outside of Johnson, the only other decent prospect in my eyes is Aminu and he is not a good fit. I really think Johnson can play the 2. I mean who would you rather start next to Evans? Beno or Johnson?

The truth is that Tyreke is going to be our PG even if he is not a traditional one. With that said, our biggest weakness is at the 2 and 5. With the 5th pick we must take BPA available and nobody is even close to Johnson. Technically the 2 and 3 are both wings offensively and defensively it is all about matchups. There is no question he can play the 2 in the NBA on both ends of the floor. He would be a great fit next to Evans. Beno is more of a true PG who can play spot minutes at the 2. He would be our "Bobby Jackson" and anchor the bench. It makes too much sense.

There is no way we would take a 5 like Aldrich or Monroe. This team needs talent and opportunity to use Evans size and strength as a mismatch. Johnson does that. After Wall, the next 4 spots are almost identical as far as upside and potential go. You could throw a blanket over them. After the 5th pick there is a major drop off! We got screwed today, but we sort of lucked out too.

[SacKingZZZ]

Wes Johnson will be a lesser version of Danny Granger. He's an ok passer a pretty solid threat from deep, good shot blocker for his position nice defender. Still not what I'd call a go to player in the Pros.

I think that Greene and Casspi will each bring us atleast 75% of what Johnson could bring the team. He's just not a good value pick for our team I would rather spend that pick in a way that better utilized our assets.

Yeah maybe, except it should be noted he's far more athletic. He's on Rudy Gays level athletically.

[ICMTM]

The difference in Wes Johnson and Evan Turner IMO is Johnson isn't a ball handler whereas Turner actually played a lot of PG for Ohio State. Johnson seems like the better shooter and athlete for sure though. The scouting report is Johnson is projected to be the better defender/shooter whereas Turner is supposed to be the better ball handler/scorer. IMO Turner put Ohio State on his back and made them a better team. I didn't watch enough Syracuse basketball to know about Johnson, but in video he actually moves better than Turner.

I haven't watched enough Wes Johnson to know if he can handle or play on the ball but he looks like what we hoped Donte Greene would be. I like Casspi but I'm thinking right now none of the three guys (Greene/Casspi/Garcia) will be stars in the league. I'm okay taking a wing as long as that means we're giving up on another one. Personally I feel Greene will be a better pro than Casspi, but it's not a for sure thing. Either way I feel Johnson can be a real upgrade to all three of the guys on the roster.

I'm trying to keep an open mind as I wanted Favors, but as you can see most mocks now have Favors ahead of Cousins. Cousins/Johnson/Aminu/Udoh are on the Kings short list according to Jason Jones
( http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sp ... -five.html ) but that seems speculatory at this point.

[king125]

With the 5th pick you would expect the player we pick to start and impact immediately. Maybe these lineups?

Jerome Randle is my pick in the 2nd round.

if we draft Cousins.....

Cousins/Hawes
Landry/Thompson
Greene/Casspi
Beno/Garcia
Evans/Randle


if we draft Aminu......

Hawes/Thompson (either way)
Landry/Greene
Aminu/Casspi
Beno/Garcia
Evans/Randle


if we draft Johnson.......

Hawes/Thompson (either way)
Landry/ 2nd rounder ?
Greene/Casspi
Johnson/Garcia
Evans/Beno

I personally think Greene is going to end up being a stud this year and in the future. Next to Tyreke I think he has the most star potential once he matures and he seems to be in that path. Although I like Aminu I would rather draft Cousins or Johnson which would allow Greene to establish himself this year. Either way, we will be alright in the end.