Arizona small forward Stanley Johnson would be a perfect fit for a team that needs depth on the wings.
When All-Star forward Chris Bosh was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung, the Miami Heat’s playoff hopes took a serious hit. The team bolstered its roster by acquiring point guard Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns, but it still fell short of making the postseason.
However, Miami has a lot to work with moving forward. Guard Dwyane Wade and forward Luol Deng both had great seasons, and the emergence of center Hassan Whiteside gives the team a frontcourt presence it has lacked for several years. Bosh will be back from his health scare and, perhaps most importantly, the Heat lucked out by receiving the 10th overall draft pick in this year’s draft lottery. If the team had landed below No. 10, the pick would’ve gone to the Philadelphia 76ers per the terms of the Kevin Love trade.
So when general manager Pat Riley prepares to make the 10th overall selection in this year’s draft, Miami will have an opportunity to add a playmaker to a team full of veteran stars.
The team will likely re-sign Dragic this offseason, and while Wade and the Heat are at arms over the three-time champion’s contract, it’s hard to believe he leaves Miami. Moreover, the presence of rookies Shabazz Napier and Tyler Johnson make it unnecessary for the team to draft a backcourt player. Therefore, a frontcourt player would be the team’s best option when it makes its selection.
Veterans Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen played well as reserves this season, and with forward Josh McRoberts expected to return from injury, taking a big man seems redundant. That leaves small forward as the team’s biggest need.
And it just so happens that Arizona forward Stanley Johnson plays that position.
The 6-foot-7-inch, 245-pound freshman is a physical freak of nature, possessing over a 6-foot-11-inch wingspan with just a 7.5 body fat percentage. He also has quick feet, and with his combination of size and length, he has the makings of an elite defender at the NBA level. He averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field (37.1 percent from 3-point range) in his lone season at Arizona.
Johnson has drawn comparisons to San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. Coming out of San Diego State, Leonard didn’t have a polished offensive game, but after a few years under the tutelage of future Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich, he’s developed an assortment of offensive moves in addition to becoming the best defender in the league.
If Deng picks up his player option for next season, Johnson would have the opportunity to learn from one of the best wing defenders in the league. He would also feel less pressure to perform, as he would join a team full of veteran players.
If Johnson is unavailable when Miami prepares to make its pick, some other options include Kansas wing Kelly Oubre, Jr. and Texas big man Myles Turner. Haslem and Andersen are aging, so adding another young frontcourt player like Turner to join Whiteside makes a good deal of sense.
Check out his scouting video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppUQCSMGQJU
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