Thunder enamored w/ Stanley Johnson. Think he is the best 2 way player in draft

[hpantazo]

meh.  isn't this what they said about Aaron Gordon last year?

No.

Nobody with half a brain, at least.

Yeah, nobody ever claimed Aaron Gordon had offensive skills. They just raved about his defense, athleticism, and great attitude. Sounded a lot like MKG, and has done about as much so far.

[Tr1boy]

I tend to agree - he looks to me like he could be the best two-way player in the draft, and he also has great versatility. 

In the NBA there is ALWAYS a place for guys who can score, defend and play multiple positions at a high level.  That's a pretty rare combination to have.

I think he'll be a very good player, either an All-Star or borderline All-Star. 

People compare him to Crowder, but Crowder does not have Johnson's level of athleticism, nor does he have the offensive skill set.  Johnson is already a better shooter, ball handler and (probably) defender than Crowder is. 

With Johnson, Bradley and Smart wow - that would be a formidable defensive trio.  Every one of those three guys can guard at least two positions at a high level.

The key for me offensively is that Johnson can score in multiple ways - he can shoot the three, he has a nice midrange game, he can get to the basket, and he can post on smaller bigs, and he can get to the line.  Guys with that type of offensive versatility (Melo, Pierce, Joe Johnson, etc) tend to develop in to very good offensive players.

Combine that with his defensive ability and this kid's potential is through the roof.

really?? Both guys are similar type of athletes.  Crowder can finish around the basket twisting , through contact, at times acrobatically.   But not very explosive, not alot of lift

Johnson is pretty much the same.   When I was watching Johnson on TV I thought I was watching Crowder.  Now Johnson is a bit more skilled or looked more skilled on tv( bc lets see him try to bulldoze baskets in at the NBA level) but Crowder gets the edge on the defensive end.   

I like Johnson but I just don't think you give up Sully nor KO plus 16 to get him.   Earlier in the year ppl thought we are looking at the 2nd coming of Lebron without the explosiveness, that is why he was up there on mock drafts.  But as you saw him deal with stress at the tourney, guys guarding him a certain way, he didn't look any special than an above average prospect. 

Winslow on the other hand was everywhere on the court. Defensive beast and offensively made some clutch threes, finished some difficult layups at crucial moments of the game.  He also sacrificed his body near the basket and got to the line.  While everyone was playing hard, he was able to raise it up a notch/come through in the clutch.

[GRADYCOLNON]

it would appear that winslow is better because of his performance in the tournament but his teammate is gonna be a top 2 pick.  Winslow was never the initial focus that Okafor and Johnson demanded. 

[GzUP617]

it would appear that winslow is better because of his performance in the tournament but his teammate is gonna be a top 2 pick.  Winslow was never the initial focus that Okafor and Johnson demanded.

very true.

[CFAN38]

When it comes down to the Winslow and S Johnson comparison I feel people are really spitting hairs. To me they are very similar prospects and how hard they work to develop is going to make all the difference in the NBA. Looking back on their development both where equally effecting in FIBA youth tournaments and put up very similar numbers in college.  While some mocks have Winslow going as high as 4 and Johnson falling to 10 or 11 I think the truth will be in the middle with both guys going 6-9.


I know this is really a bogus rumor as it was started by the player himself but it does raise the question of whether OKC will try to use their rare trip to the lottery to move up and maximize talent. If they resign Kanter they will have two very talented you players in Adams and Waiters on their bench but a player like Johnson would add a whole different dynamic to their team. With the success of small ball would they consider packaging Adams and #14 to move up for Johnson figuring this would give them the flexibility to play Durant at the stretch 4?

If this is the case it could create a situation where Adams is available for the Cs to trade for. If OKC is pushing a package of #14 and Adams to move up they may have issues because many of the teams 5-10 are not in need of a young center. # 5 Orlando has Vucevic, #6 Kings Cousin, #7 Nuggets Nurkic, #8 Pistons Drummond, #9 Bobcats Big AL (Zeller,Vonleh) and #10 Heat Whitside. The Cs could step in and offer #16 + #45 for Adams. Then OKC could approach teams with a package of #14 and #16  much like the 2013 trade that when Utah and the T-Wolves swapped #9 for #14 and #21.

For the Cs Adams has been debated on this site before but he would clearly give the team a starting center and a defensive anchor and at 21 he has a ton of room to grow. If this trade could be made while retaining the #28 and #33 then DA could still look to move up into the early 20s to grab a wing player who fall like a RHJ, J Anderson or RJ Hunter.

[loco_91]

When Johnson says he thinks he is the best two way player in the draft, i wonder what he is smoking.

He's certainly right near the top of the list . other than Winslow, no one in the top 5-10 are great 2 way players.

Karl Anthony Towns begs to differ.

[Bucketgetter]

When Johnson says he thinks he is the best two way player in the draft, i wonder what he is smoking.

He's certainly right near the top of the list . other than Winslow, no one in the top 5-10 are great 2 way players.

Karl Anthony Towns begs to differ.

5-10. Is Karl Anthony Towns in the 5-10 range? No. He is in the 1-2 range.

[crimson_stallion]

really?? Both guys are similar type of athletes.  Crowder can finish around the basket twisting , through contact, at times acrobatically.   But not very explosive, not alot of lift

Johnson is pretty much the same.   When I was watching Johnson on TV I thought I was watching Crowder.  Now Johnson is a bit more skilled or looked more skilled on tv( bc lets see him try to bulldoze baskets in at the NBA level) but Crowder gets the edge on the defensive end.   

Watching footage of both guys, Crowder looks nowhere near as quick with his first step, not quite as fast in the open floor, nowhere near as impressive with his elevation. 

In a lot of footage I watch of Crowder, he looks like he just barely gets up high enough to comfortably dunk/finish.  Off the dribble, he doesn't really have the ball handling ability or the quickness to ever really beat defenders off the dribble in ISO / 1-on-1 situations.

From what I can see Johnson seems to get a ton of elevation, and looks to be quite quick off his first step. 

Crowder probably gets closer to him in terms of end-to-end speed and lateral quickness, but even in those areas Johnson look to have a significant advantage.

Crowder certainly matches his physical strength pound for pound, but aside from that Johnson comes across to me as being both physically superior, and a great deal more skilled.  Even as prospect.

I really feel that Crowder is able to be as effective as he is because of decent (rather than great) athleticism for his position, excellent strength, and just pure will/effort/motor.   

[crimson_stallion]

meh.  isn't this what they said about Aaron Gordon last year?

No.

Nobody with half a brain, at least.

Yeah, nobody ever claimed Aaron Gordon had offensive skills. They just raved about his defense, athleticism, and great attitude. Sounded a lot like MKG, and has done about as much so far.

Well, there WERE all those Blake Griffin comparisons...hahaha 

[DrJasper]

I think we should trade Bradley, 16# and 33# for 9# and Stephenson - take Johnson (maybe another minor trade up needed)

After that we should go after Noel, maybe Sullinger, Young, Brooklyn's 2016# and Minnesota's 2016# could get it done.

2015/2016 lineup: Smart/Stephenson/Johnson/Olynyk/Noel

Your thoughts?

[BornReady]

Thunder need to trade up to get him as he will be gone by 10

[Future Celtics Owner]

I think we should trade Bradley, 16# and 33# for 9# and Stephenson - take Johnson (maybe another minor trade up needed)

After that we should go after Noel, maybe Sullinger, Young, Brooklyn's 2016# and Minnesota's 2016# could get it done.

2015/2016 lineup: Smart/Stephenson/Johnson/Olynyk/Noel

Your thoughts?

I hate that. We give up too much for Stan. Noel is decent but they prob wanna hang on to him. This is why we should not have made the playoffs, we would be at 9th pick.

[BDeCosta26]

When it comes down to the Winslow and S Johnson comparison I feel people are really spitting hairs. To me they are very similar prospects and how hard they work to develop is going to make all the difference in the NBA. Looking back on their development both where equally effecting in FIBA youth tournaments and put up very similar numbers in college.  While some mocks have Winslow going as high as 4 and Johnson falling to 10 or 11 I think the truth will be in the middle with both guys going 6-9.


I know this is really a bogus rumor as it was started by the player himself but it does raise the question of whether OKC will try to use their rare trip to the lottery to move up and maximize talent. If they resign Kanter they will have two very talented you players in Adams and Waiters on their bench but a player like Johnson would add a whole different dynamic to their team. With the success of small ball would they consider packaging Adams and #14 to move up for Johnson figuring this would give them the flexibility to play Durant at the stretch 4?

If this is the case it could create a situation where Adams is available for the Cs to trade for. If OKC is pushing a package of #14 and Adams to move up they may have issues because many of the teams 5-10 are not in need of a young center. # 5 Orlando has Vucevic, #6 Kings Cousin, #7 Nuggets Nurkic, #8 Pistons Drummond, #9 Bobcats Big AL (Zeller,Vonleh) and #10 Heat Whitside. The Cs could step in and offer #16 + #45 for Adams. Then OKC could approach teams with a package of #14 and #16  much like the 2013 trade that when Utah and the T-Wolves swapped #9 for #14 and #21.

For the Cs Adams has been debated on this site before but he would clearly give the team a starting center and a defensive anchor and at 21 he has a ton of room to grow. If this trade could be made while retaining the #28 and #33 then DA could still look to move up into the early 20s to grab a wing player who fall like a RHJ, J Anderson or RJ Hunter.

Much as I wish it was, that's no where near enough for Adams. It would take at least that plus Bradley if not more than that. If we include AB we could probably swing a pick swap or PJ3 out of it, but any chance at getting Adams is gonna involve more than picks. Especially with it being KD's last year.

[Celtics18]

meh.  isn't this what they said about Aaron Gordon last year?

No.

Nobody with half a brain, at least.

Yeah, nobody ever claimed Aaron Gordon had offensive skills. They just raved about his defense, athleticism, and great attitude. Sounded a lot like MKG, and has done about as much so far.

Well, there WERE all those Blake Griffin comparisons...hahaha 

I feel bad for Aaron Gordon.  I can't believe his NBA career is already completely washed up at just nineteen years of age. 

[Chief Macho]

the crowder comparison is terrible.