Detroit Pistons NBA Draft Scouting Report: Keldon Johnson
The NBA Draft is June 20th, and the Detroit Pistons front office has a critical decision to make as they pick 15th overall in this years draft. In this stint, we will be looking at Keldon Johnson out of the University of Kentucky.
Keldon Johnson is a 6’6″ guard out of the University of Kentucky where he was awarded SEC rookie of the year, SEC All-Freshman, and All-SEC honors. Johnson only playing one year at Kentucky showed that he has the potential to become a great NBA player. Keldon averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game. Johnson’s shooting numbers only got better throughout the season as he shot 38 percent from three and had a field goal percentage of 46 percent.
According to several mock drafts, Johnson is one of several players that could be drafted as early as 10 and as late as 25. I believe the Pistons will draft Johnson if he drops to 15 because there is so much about him that’s likable. One attribute that doesn’t go unseen by NBA scouts is his shooting stroke. He’s not the best shooter in the draft, but you could say he has the best ‘shot’.
Strengths:
Keldon is not just a shooter. Yes, he has a beautiful stroke, but his explosiveness is what makes him unique. He has long arms and a quick first step that allows him to finish around the basket. Keldon being 6’6″ definitely isn’t the tallest guy out there, but he’s athletic enough where he can finish against taller defenders.
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Along with his three-point shooting and his progressive mid-range game, Johnson is creative with his ball-handling abilities in an effort to create his own shots. Overall, he is a hard player to guard because of what he brings to the table. And of course, he is only 19 years old!
Weaknesses:
His biggest weakness is his defensive abilities, and his numbers show it. He only averaged 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks per game at Kentucky, which is mind-boggling because of the amount of effort he shows. Then again, this is why he will most likely be drafted in the 10-25 range.
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Johnson shooting improved throughout the season, but like Luke Kennard, he was a bit timid at times, but there is potential for him to become a great shooter in the NBA. Johnson’s explosiveness doesn’t necessarily help him in some ways because he lacks body control, but then again, these are minor problems that can be fixed.