NBA Draft 2019: 3 Prospects To Consider With Potential Additional First-Round Pick
By Chris Kern
Keldon Johnson
Keldon Johnson is a really good player, but he did go through some struggles during his freshman season at Kentucky. He had some good moments where he shined such as when he helped them get to the Elite Eight, but it seemed as if he didn’t improve very much as the season went along.
During his freshman season, he averaged 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on 46% shooting including 38% from three-point range. He did a really good job creating for himself on the offensive end, but he did struggle to create for others at times when he was needed to do so. He didn’t have the ball in his hands a lot so that is part of it, but he will need to show he can do that at the next level for him to be successful.
Some question whether he has an elite skill that he prides himself on, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a big negative thing. He is good in a lot of areas and that will help him find a role and have a lot of success at the next level.
One of his best games of the season was in the NCAA Tournament opener against Abilene Christian. He was very effective and efficient finishing with 25 points and 6 rebounds on 10-16 shooting including 3-5 from three-point range. He made it look so easy as he used his size to his advantage against smaller guards while also showing his ability to knock down from beyond the arc.
His game has some work that needs to be done to have true success, but he has an offensive game that resembles CJ McCollum and he can have a similar impact in the NBA. He won’t ever become that good of a player, but that could be his ceiling if he truly reaches his full potential. McCollum was a role player his first two seasons in the league before he went on to average more than 20 points per game each of the last four years.
Keldon Johnson is a really good player and has a chance to be available into the early 20s. It seems as if he will go late in the lottery or in the teens, but he does have a chance to drop and if he does the Grizzlies could look to pick him up with a first-round pick if they dro trade Mike Conley. If they make the deal with Miami involving the 13th pick, Johnson should be at the top of their list.