Among other things, the Detroit Pistons need two big things this off-season: more shooting and size at the wing. UNC wing Cameron Johnson may be able fill both voids.
The Detroit Pistons have plenty of good wing options with the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, and one could make a reasonable case for each player. But in terms of what the Pistons need most, Cameron Johnson’s skill set fits best with what they want.
Johnson will almost certainly be available for the Pistons at 15 for several reasons:
- At 23 years old, he is one of the oldest prospects in the draft
- He isn’t the greatest athlete or defender
- He can’t create much for himself or others
Those are fair points. But what Johnson brings to the table mightily outweighs those weaknesses.
Shooting:
Shooting is Johnson’s greatest attribute, as he is one of if not the best shooter in this draft. As a senior at the University of North Carolina, he shot 50.6 percent from the field and nailed 45.7 percent from three-point range in almost six attempts per game. So he’s not only taking shots at a high volume, he is making almost half of them. Those are ridiculous numbers.
His shooting form is mechanically sound, and his quick trigger and high release makes him a threat from almost anywhere outside the paint. He is excellent off the catch and shoot and moves very well without the ball, gliding around screens to free himself for a shot.
Johnson’s shooting alone would be a huge boon for a team severely lacking in that department.
Length:
He is listed at 6’9 with a 6’10 wingspan, which is the ideal size for a small forward in the NBA. His shooting stroke is smooth and pure, and his aforementioned high release on his shot makes it very difficult for opposing defenders to block it.
His length will help him tremendously on defense, allowing him to guard two’s and three’s and possibly some small ball four’s at the next level. He isn’t expected to be a lock down defender by any means, but that doesn’t mean he can’t become at least a decent defender.
Pistons fans may remember that Luke Kennard wasn’t considered a good defender at all coming out of college, and although he still isn’t great, he has quietly played better than expected defense in his two years in the league so far. It’s fair to say Johnson will have the same opportunity to prove people wrong about his defense.
Maturity:
Being older might be a good thing. If the Pistons decide that immediate contribution outweighs development and potential, Johnson may be worth the pick. Being 23 years old means he likely has little room to grow into a star player. But he could step in immediately and be a solid contributor, which exactly what the Pistons need given their current “win-now” timeline.
With Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson running the team, the Pistons don’t necessarily need to draft an immature 19 or 20-year-old player who pouts when he doesn’t get the ball. Johnson has played a long time in college (5 years), and he is more likely to understand and accept a smaller role with a team with established players.
Fit with the team:
Cameron Johnson certainly isn’t a perfect player, but he has just about everything the Pistons front office is looking for.
Cam Johnson is 6-foot-9, shot 46 percent from 3 and averaged 16.9 pts and 5.8 rebs. He's a catch-and-shoot threat and defense/ball-handling are question marks.
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) June 19, 2019
At 23, he won't take years to fit into the roster. Stefanski talked about maturity and fit.
Cam checks many boxes.
The Pistons are built around Griffin and Drummond, so adding a plug and play floor spacer like Johnson will only make life easier on the two big men. A starting lineup of Jackson, Kennard, Johnson, Griffin, and Drummond would provide an ideal lineup that could maximize the Pistons strengths.
Floor spacing from Kennard and Johnson would allow more room for Jackson’s drives, Jackson and Drummond/Griffin pick-and-rolls, and Griffin’s post-ups.
Many mock drafts have Cameron Johnson listed in the 20’s of this draft. If this is the case, 15 may be too high for him, and the Pistons may want to consider trading back a few spots to accumulate more picks and still grab Johnson.
The Pistons constrained financial situation means they need all the cheap talent they can get, and preferably ones that can step in and play immediately, similar to what Bruce Brown Jr did last year. With current project players already in development like Khyri Thomas and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, the Pistons really can’t afford to use a roster spot for a player who can’t contribute meaningful minutes for a couple of years.
Cameron Johnson may not a home run pick, but he might be just what the Pistons need.