Keldon Johnson, the promising freshman guard from Kentucky, should be on the radar of the Charlotte Hornets during the 2019 NBA Draft.
In our recent 2019 NBA Mock Draft, I had the Charlotte Hornets selecting Keldon Johnson with their lottery pick. To this day, I continue to think he would be a really good selection for Charlotte come June.
Johnson, a freshman from Kentucky, recently announced that he intends to stay in the draft and hire an agent, which is no surprise at all. Johnson will likely be a lottery pick and the tools he possesses for his age make him an intriguing prospect.
About Keldon Johnson
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 211 pounds
Wingspan: 6’8.5″
2018-19 Stats: 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 38.1 3PFG%, 30.7 minutes.
Strengths:
- Good combination of size and strength for his position.
- “3&D” potential.
- Good three-point shooter.
- Explosive athlete.
- Intense competitor/Passion.
Weaknesses:
- Not a good playmaker at this point.
- Shot selection needs improvement.
- Out of control at times.
Since the 2018-19 season started, Keldon Johnson was always viewed as a lottery talent. His consistent play at Kentucky helped him maintain that reputation, and I would be shocked at this point if he falls outside of the lottery.
Right now, barring any changes during the Draft Lottery, the Hornets will be picking 12th overall, which is where Miles Bridges was taken last year. If Johnson is available at that pick, it would be tough to pass on him.
In today’s NBA, teams are always looking for versatile players that can defend and shoot. Johnson has the size to play multiple positions, the body to play right away, and a smooth stroke to go along with it.
He’ll fit perfectly in the NBA, and if he goes to the right team/player development staff, we could be talking about him as an All-Star talent one day.
I mentioned his three-point shooting earlier, but that’s not his only weapon on the offensive end. He’s going to make things happen in transition with that athleticism and he also developed a nice floater during the course of his freshman season.
It’s important that he continues to add different elements to his game so he is not just a three-point shooter on the offensive end. The next step for him is going to be consistency and creating his own shot.
Johnson scored a career-high 27 points against Tennessee State back on November 23rd, and he did that without making a single three-pointer. He showed his ability to get to the free-throw line, making 13-18 from the stripe.
Another signature moment from his rookie campaign was against Seton Hall on December 8th. Johnson hit a half-court shot to tie the game and send it to overtime at the buzzer. Kentucky lost in overtime, but it was still an unbelievable moment for the freshman.
If the Charlotte Hornets bomb out in free agency by not re-signing Kemba Walker or Jeremy Lamb, Johnson could come in and see minutes right away on a rebuilding team. It would be exciting watching him next to Bridges and Malik Monk, two athletes with a ton of upside.
It’s unknown if Johnson will slide come draft day, but if he does and falls right into the lap of the Charlotte Hornets, they need to take advantage and select him with their pick. He’s an exciting prospect with loads of potential.