James Johnson vs. Clemson: The Most Interesting Mixtape You'll See This Draft Season

SoulEater7 linked to this rumor on another thread that said the Bulls are looking to move up to #11 to select James Johnson.

I knew next to nothing about Johnson - barely saw him play this year, barely heard anything about him during the ACC tournament. I saw 6'8", 257lbs, with 8.5rpg last season, and assumed he's just another athletic, undersized PF. And then I saw this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih2DyJLYw88

That's a 257lb guy taking it coast to coast... twice in one game for layups. Rebounding his own 3pt miss, then driving to the hoop past three players for the ridiculous jam (a must-see at 2:04).

Could the Bulls be looking at Johnson not at PF, or at SF, but at shooting guard? It looks like he has plenty of foot speed and handle for the 2. It's hard to say what his stats would be if he played in the backcourt in college, but from the looks of the tape, I'm really intrigued.

Edit: youtube update: he's does backflips too!

over 2 years ago YaoPau 18 comments 0 recs |

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hmm

I thought music was an integral part of a mix tape

by JSlakov on Jun 19, 2009 4:35 PM CDT reply actions

His 3/4 sprint time is faster than Brandon Roy, Joe Johnson, and in the same ballpark as Gordon's was.

His agility drill time is way faster than Joe Johnson’s, slightly faster than BG’s and in the same ball park as Brandon Roy.

He’s also super strong, benching 185 pounds 18 times.

I guess given that he’s such an excellent ball handler and finisher and that he can shoot the ball okay (though he’d need to improve quite a bit to really play the 2), then I could see him at the 2 without it being absolutely nuts.

He’s basically like a heavier version of Joe Johnson or like a chubbier version of LeBron without the out of this world athleticism.

It’s not totally inconceivable that he could be successful as an NBA SG, but it would be a ballsy move by the Bulls to go that route.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 19, 2009 4:55 PM CDT reply actions

At 260lbs 185 18x times is'nt super-strong

I kno its not he NFL but 230lbs linebackers bench 225lbs 20+ times coming out of the rookie combine routinely… but he’s young so…

by AFireInside661 on Jun 22, 2009 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions

It's a lot for an NBA player, even at his position. Look at the other guys numbers. Plus, he's got long arms (like most basketball players)

so benching that much IS a lot.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 22, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

i wasn't that impressed with the mix tape

and i see nothing to suggest that he would be a shooting guard in the NBA. I could see him being a small forward, maybe a poor mans Carmelo Anthony. He certainly seems to be able to score in a variety of ways.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 19, 2009 4:57 PM CDT reply actions

i should note however

that I’m never impressed with mixtapes.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 19, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Admittedly I'm getting over-excited about a #11 pick

but just curious, what do you mean “nothing to suggest he would be a shooting guard in the NBA”? Taking it coast to coast, crossover dribbles and penetrating to the bucket, shooting 3s… what was he missing?

by YaoPau on Jun 19, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Part of playing SG is guarding other SGs.

by Scotter on Jun 19, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions

The fact that he was being guarded mostly by 3's and 4's is my first thought

My second thought is that he may not have the defensive quickness to guard guys on the perimeter. Is he going to be able to chase Hamilton and Ray Allen around screens (Scotter beat me to it, dammit).

My third thought is that there are a lot of SF’s in the league who can handle – Turk, Lebron, Pierce, but they are all better suited to play the 3. Johnson seemed to get a lot of his scoring opportunities by guys finding him close to the basket. His ability to finish inside coupled with a suspect outside shot makes me thing he will be most comfortable playing 3s.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 19, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree he's better suited for the 3

But Deng’s there, and if the Bulls are trading up to the #11, I doubt it’s to get a backup. Assuming Deng is in their longterm plans (and assuming the rumor is true), the Bulls have to think Johnson’s a future starting 2 or 4. I don’t see future 4, two might be a possibility. Carmelo plays occasional 2.

Defensively it’s hard to say, but there are 6’8" guys (Kobe, Artest, Battier) who can guard SGs just fine. What he possibly lacks in speed he can make up for with his 7’1" wingspan, 8’9.5" standing reach, 35" vert, and ability to body up players in the post.

by YaoPau on Jun 19, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

OTOH, they might think he nees some work and are willing to trade Deng...

…to get out from the contract. That’d be stupid, but that could be the Bulls.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 19, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

People question whether he can be a 3, let alone a 2

But, if the Bulls do draft him, I do hope that it’s with the intention of getting him to drop at least 15 -20 lbs. and having him play the three. I’m not interested on a poor man’s Beasley at the 4.

by Scotter on Jun 19, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't see him being quick enough to get around NBA SG's or able to guard them.

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on Jun 19, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Dude is way too heavy to be a SG. He will be a 3…sometimes will play the 4.

by C Smoove on Jun 19, 2009 5:04 PM CDT reply actions

That's certainly a thought

Tired of seeing Gordon getting punished by bigger guards, Gar Forman decides to see Johnson get punished by smaller guards.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 19, 2009 6:09 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

hahaha nice

"Vinny continues to act like a crazed arsonist pouring gasoline on our season while running around carrying a torch yelling 'I’m in charge. Don’t any of you foolish knaves try to second guess me. I know gasoline is a liquid but I’m pretty sure it isn’t flammable and the odor gives me a natural high.'" - Tyrusmancrush

by Illini15 on Jun 19, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't see any reason to try to make the guy into something

As he stands, he looks to have exceptional size and athleticism for the 3/4 spots. And truth be told, that’s a position we need.

Some combination of the following is bound to happen.
1. Gordon Walks. In that case, it makes pretty good sense to play Salmons primarily at the 2 and Deng at the 3. We’ll need a backup 3 and a backup 4. Johnson fits the bill.
2. Deng isn’t fully healthy. In that case, Johnson makes pretty good since, for while we limped through with Salmons at the 3, we had to go to a lot of smaller lineups as well.
3. We trade for a big name 4 like Bosh or Amare. Well, if we do that, we still need a backup, and a backup that can credibly play two positions makes decent sense.

So, I guess to me I don’t see much reason to even start looking at Johnson as a 2. He makes pretty good sense as a 3/4.

Also, I just have to say that the numbers he turned in, at his size, were pretty amazing.

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jun 22, 2009 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

Did I miss something?

Since when is 6’8" and 257 lbs. considered undersized for a PF? Anything under 6’8" and I’ll buy that as undersized but this guys the same height as Tyrus Thomas and weighs about 30 lbs. more and we never say Tyrus is undersized (with respect to height at least).

I’m pretty sure Karl Malone (prototypical PF if there ever was one) was about 6’9" in shoes. Carlos Boozer? Is he undersized at 6’8"? I’m a Johnson fan, I think he’ll be good at the 3 or 4.

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 2:52 PM CDT reply actions