Tre Johnson: welcome to the DMV

[tontoz]

I was so relieved when his name was announced. He was my favorite guy to watch during the season.

Watch on YouTube

[tontoz]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[AFM]

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[prime1time]

I wanted Ace because I preferred the potential upside of his game. Ace can contest shots at the rim, switch 1-4 and also be a potential number 1 offensive option. To that, before the draft I criticized Johnson's 2 point fg %. On 2 point fgs Tre shot only 44.9%. I spent last night doing a much deeper dive into his game and I'll say that there is a lot to like.

Tre presents the offensive upside of a player like a Beal or a Brunson or a Mitchell while also being a solid 6'6 in shoes and having a 6 10 3/4 wingspan. To put it another way, he doesn't have to be a massive defensive liability by default. On day 1 Tre will be one of the best shooters in the NBA.

Read on Twitter

The 38.4% on off the dribble 3's is absolutely incredible. Not all 3-point shooting is made equal. The ability to shoot a high percentage on off the dribble 3's is an amazing skillset to have because it drastically increases the number of 3's a player can take.

One player who Johnson matches up well to in terms of measurements is SGA. They are both 6'4.5 in shoes. Johnson has a wingspan of 6 10 3/4, SGA has 6'11 1/2. Johnson was actually 10 pounds heavier than SGA 190 vs. 180. But the best case scenario is that Johnson is an offensive hub like SGA. Different in terms of approach, way more 3's than SGA, but the same ultimate result. The swing skill for Johnson will be his ability to draw free throws and finish at the rim. To that end it's no surprise that he's focused on it.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=TylerRelph%27sHoopDynamic

Also Sam Vecenie during his draft show said that he wanted to move Tre Johnson to #3 and that Tre had the best shooting workout he's ever seen from a draft prospect. He said he told Tre's trainer that and the trainer told him that he shot it better the day before.

[prime1time]

I wanted Ace because I preferred the potential upside of his game. Ace can contest shots at the rim, switch 1-4 and also be a potential number 1 offensive option. To that, before the draft I criticized Johnson's 2 point fg %. On 2 point fgs Tre shot only 44.9%. I spent last night doing a much deeper dive into his game and I'll say that there is a lot to like.

Tre presents the offensive upside of a player like a Beal or a Brunson or a Mitchell while also being a solid 6'6 in shoes and having a 6 10 3/4 wingspan. To put it another way, he doesn't have to be a massive defensive liability by default. On day 1 Tre will be one of the best shooters in the NBA.

Read on Twitter

The 38.4% on off the dribble 3's is absolutely incredible. Not all 3-point shooting is made equal. The ability to shoot a high percentage on off the dribble 3's is an amazing skillset to have because it drastically increases the number of 3's a player can take.

One player who Johnson matches up well to in terms of measurements is SGA. They are both 6'4.5 in shoes. Johnson has a wingspan of 6 10 3/4, SGA has 6'11 1/2. Johnson was actually 10 pounds heavier than SGA 190 vs. 180. But the best case scenario is that Johnson is an offensive hub like SGA. Different in terms of approach, way more 3's than SGA, but the same ultimate result. The swing skill for Johnson will be his ability to draw free throws and finish at the rim. To that end it's no surprise that he's focused on it.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=TylerRelph%27sHoopDynamic

Also Sam Vecenie during his draft show said that he wanted to move Tre Johnson to #3 and that Tre had the best shooting workout he's ever seen from a draft prospect. He said he told Tre's trainer that and the trainer told him that he shot it better the day before.

We can talk about all of the stats but from a skill perspective, this kid is on track to be a dominant offensive player. The main issue that will prevent him from being a 1 imo, will be his lack of core strength, his average explosiveness and his passing/playmaking. Now these can be compensated for - look at a guy like Brunson (lack of explosion) and a guy like SGA (lack of core strength) but it takes a lot of time in the gym.

In a broader aspect Johnson's game fits very nicely with the pieces we already have. His elite shooting ability combined with his potential to become a 3-level scorer will open the floor for everyone else. More shooting is always ideal but depending on his growth, it makes it easier to play players that may not be good/great shooters.

[prime1time]

Also, one thing to understand with comparisons. Tre is way more advanced than the vast majority of previous guards that were his age. Yes he's still shooting and developing muscle memory but hearing him talk he's focused on improving is playmaking/passing and finishing. Compared to Beal he's a vastly more skilled player than Beal was coming out of Florida. In fact I struggle to find good comparisons for Johnson.

For comparison purposes:
Booker put up 10/1/2 on 47/41/81.
Beal put up 14.8/6.7/2.2 on 44.5/33.9/76.9.

The lack of good comps creates a situation where we really are grasping at straws to feel how his career arc will play out. Best case scenario is he shooting 10+ 3's a game, finishing at the rim, drawing fouls, creating easy looks for others, and being a solid defender.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=MarchMadness

Don't be surprised if Johnson puts on a show at summer league. This is a super skilled offensive player. And what I like about his fit in Washington is that we can try to grow him into a complete offensive option instead of just pigeon holding him into being a scorer. Since we have other players who can initiate and score, it creates a situation where Johnson will have to improve his playmaking. Versus if we had a team that had a great player who dominated the ball, then Johnson would only really get the ball to score. Think Kyrie with LBJ. I think Johnson is an championship caliber 2 guard. Time will tell if he can be a 1 or a 2 but this is skillset my ideal 2 guard would have.

[pcbothwel]

Im so pumped about this pick. You guys need to realize that his combination of efficiency, MPG, competition, and usage is mostly unheard of as a Freshman.
We are talking about a Ray Allen, JJ Redick, Curry caliber of movement shooter. They guy is like Rip Hamilton...NEVER stops moving and making the defense exhausted fighting through picks.
Herro just put up 24/5/5 on 47/38/88 (60% TS) shooting, and a 3+ BPM. I think that is a likely "Successful" outcome for Tre, with a tad more upside.

[closg00]

Although I advocated for the opportunity to take a potential star/all star PG in Fears (which we still need), I am happy that we have our first player who can be our clutch shot maker, nice consolation prize for missing out on Bailey.

[DCZards]

Although I advocated for the opportunity to take a potential star/all star PG in Fears (which we still need), I am happy that we have our first player who can be our clutch shot maker, nice consolation prize for missing out on Fears.

The Zards didn't miss out on Fears...they chose Johnson over him. I really, really like Fears handle and ability to get to the rim. I had Fears and Johnson ranked almost even.

But I gave the edge to Tre because of his superior size and proven ability to shoot the ball, especially 3s.

[closg00]

Although I advocated for the opportunity to take a potential star/all star PG in Fears (which we still need), I am happy that we have our first player who can be our clutch shot maker, nice consolation prize for missing out on Fears.

The Zards didn't miss out on Fears...they chose Johnson over him. I really, really like Fears handle and ability to get to the rim. I had Fears and Johnson ranked almost even.

But I gave the edge to Tre because of his superior size and proven ability to shoot the ball, especially 3s.

Oops, I meant missing out on Bailey fixed

[FAH1223]

I’m happy with Tre. Don’t need to teach shooting.

Hopefully he can get stronger, improve going to the rim and his 2-point %, be a better defender.

I think he’s a decent passer

[nate33]

My comp for Tre Johnson is a rich man's Tyler Herro. He has Herro's shooting ability and off-the-bounce creation, but he also has a +5.5 wingspan (versus Herro's comically bad -1.25 wingspan). I have no trouble envisioning him as a 20+ PPG scorer. It's not out of the question that he could become a legit star, though he'll have to get better at finishing all the way to the rim.

He is an underrated playmaker with a solid assist/turnover ratio who would have a somewhat higher assist rate if he had teammates who could shoot.

Right now his defense isn't good, but there's no reason he can't get better. He is quick enough and long enough to be a solid NBA defender. He'll need to add some muscle of course, but most 19-year-olds do. His defensive weakness are not due to him being blown by or anything. It's mostly that he isn't doing the work of fighting through screens or pushing guys off of their spot before they make their catch. These are mostly attention-to-detail issues that can be coached up.

[tontoz]

One thing about Tre's game that surprised me was that he has a post game. When he had a smaller guy on him he wouldn't hesitate to post him up and get an easy shot over him. That isn't something you expect to see from a freshman guard.

[AFM]

I've posted this video a few times but this shows how much of a sneaky good playmaker he is

Watch on YouTube

He isn't some Nick Young-esque black hole. He has a nice feel for the game and is a solid passer. It's almost like he's getting pigeonholed because he's such a good shooter.

I wouldn't be surprised if he averages 18 ppg next year.

[Gig18]

One thought on Tre. I'm NOT making a direct comparison here, but---years ago, I was lucky enough to watch Kobe Bryant pretty up-close in a preseason game. The one thing about him that I was surprised by and really saw was how strong he was. He'd go up for a shot and no one moved him.
I see a little bit of that kind of body strength in Tre. I think he's different than Tyler Herro in that regard. Looks like he's already got old-man strength...

[AFM]

From the Ringer:

SCOUTING REPORT BY J. Kyle Mann
Johnson is one of the Real Hooper champions of this draft, a player sure to spawn swarms of feisty Twitter warriors huffing the fumes of the unbelievable highlight reels of him scoring in every which way. Falling down, spinning over either shoulder, hand glued to his face—it doesn’t seem to matter. Johnson is the most talented pure scorer in this class. His production as a freshman in the cold and ruthless SEC tournament was undeniably impressive, but his team’s success was very up-and-down. This raises a question: Has he been put in a tough position because of the quality of his roster (or his coaching), or has his roster been put in a tough position because of his style of play?

Johnson’s intoxicating combination of size and scoring gives him the look of a primary offensive option at the highest levels, but his tools may be better suited for a different role. Johnson’s speed, mobility, and dynamism as a shooter give him immense gravity on the floor, which should translate immediately to the NBA level. He’s also flashed some signs that he could become a nifty passer within the flow of an offense. Overall, he’s what I like to call a “pilot light” guy—someone who burns hot enough to fuel an entire offense … but can also burn everything down if the flame isn’t controlled. My instinct would be to put him in a position where his voracious scoring appetite can run wild, primarily working when the ball is swung to him, moving off the ball, or attacking switches where he has an advantage.

Because of his higher center of gravity, narrower side-to-side range in his handle (he’s particularly weak going left), and decent-but-not-super speed from a standstill, Johnson is doing the bulk of his work beyond the arc and facing up in the midrange. It’s good to have size if you’re going to play that way, and he does. At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he’s got the frame and the type of high release point on his shot that allow him to reach into the tool bag and get to work whenever he wants. On that front, he’s been very effective this season: Through 33 games (17 in conference) at decent volume, he’s been incredibly effective from 3 in transition, handling it in the pick-and-roll, and coming off screens. He’s a threat with the ball and is a creative and angular scorer, although his rim pressure could stand to improve, which eats into his opportunities at the line. Tre is like that “Wolverine looking at a picture frame” meme, and his pull-up jumper is what’s in the frame. This leads to a lot of settling: Through 33 games, Johnson has taken 95 dribble pull-up 2s and 99 dribble 3s, but only 80 total shots at the rim.

Johnson’s frame and attentiveness can be a challenge defensively as well. He’s not particularly disruptive creating deflections or turnovers. Screen awareness and navigation are a challenge for all young perimeter players, so it’s not a surprise that Tre will have stretches when it seems like his attentiveness is causing his feet to be behind the play and his arms and hands are trying to do the catching up, which has caused him to be fairly foul prone.

[gambitx777]

I'm gonna say this again.
He's beal but better with a little Kris Middleton in him. If they can tap in to him tools he can be a plus defender he has the ability. But he can be what beal was supposed to be on O.

Sent from my SM-S926U1 using RealGM mobile app

[DCZards]

Bub and Tre are gonna compliment each other very well. Two guards with good height and length. One (Bub) a high IQ, low turnover, oncourt leader…and the other a scoring machine with constant off-ball movement and a quick release.

Both will need to get better at getting to the rim and FT line.

And they’ll have solid vets like CJ, Middleton, and Smart to help teach them how to be professionals and how to play the right way.

[80sballboy]

Im so pumped about this pick. You guys need to realize that his combination of efficiency, MPG, competition, and usage is mostly unheard of as a Freshman.
We are talking about a Ray Allen, JJ Redick, Curry caliber of movement shooter. They guy is like Rip Hamilton...NEVER stops moving and making the defense exhausted fighting through picks.
Herro just put up 24/5/5 on 47/38/88 (60% TS) shooting, and a 3+ BPM. I think that is a likely "Successful" outcome for Tre, with a tad more upside.

Ugh, my man Rip Hamilton. Still mad at Jordan for trading him. Never stopped moving on offense.

[PaulinVA]

Im so pumped about this pick. You guys need to realize that his combination of efficiency, MPG, competition, and usage is mostly unheard of as a Freshman.
We are talking about a Ray Allen, JJ Redick, Curry caliber of movement shooter. They guy is like Rip Hamilton...NEVER stops moving and making the defense exhausted fighting through picks.
Herro just put up 24/5/5 on 47/38/88 (60% TS) shooting, and a 3+ BPM. I think that is a likely "Successful" outcome for Tre, with a tad more upside.

Ugh, my man Rip Hamilton. Still mad at Jordan for trading him. Never stopped moving on offense.

He reminds Sam Vecenie of Rip Hamilton, too:


Full disclosure: I tried to make a final, last-minute adjustment on my draft rankings to slot Johnson at No. 3 on my board. Ultimately, we ran out of time to put it into the draft guide, but that’s how highly I think of Johnson. I’m a big believer in workers figuring it out. And there is a genuine case for Johnson as the hardest worker in the class. He’s a machine in how he approaches his craft. He’s singularly focused on becoming the best player he can be. I tend to buy into those kinds of players. It also doesn’t hurt that Johnson is one of the three best shooters in the class, along with Knueppel and Kentucky wing Koby Brea. If you made me pick the most functional, versatile one of that trio, I would go with Johnson. He’s an elite shooter off movement because his jumper looks the same every single time, and he’s elite at getting his feet organized underneath him.

The player Johnson reminds me of most is a modern version of Rip Hamilton, who averaged 19 points per game over 717 games in the 2000s. But whereas Hamilton played in a slower era and mostly got his shots from the midrange, Johnson plays uptempo and takes his shots at volume from beyond the arc. I don’t think it’s out of the question that he averages 25 points per game in the NBA. The Wizards also drafted Hamilton in 1999. Hopefully, they don’t preemptively trade Johnson for this era’s equivalent of a 29-year-old Jerry Stackhouse and Brian Cardinal.


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6452683/2025/06/26/winners-losers-nba-draft-first-round-2025-pelicans-hornets-spurs/?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20250626&instance_id=157328&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=133117165&segment_id=200722&user_id=5d1e850cc7d7613244bccdc9458a8455