Tre Johnson - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Washington ethically tanked and was punished for it. The Wizards have their big man of the future in Alex Sarr, so why not pair him with one of the best pure scorers in the class? Johnson has skyrocketed up draft boards during the last few months. He can impact winning at the next level with his elite shotmaking abilities.

The SEC Freshman of the Year dazzled on offense at Texas by creating for himself and hitting difficult shots on the move or with his patented step-backs and side-steps. He can also set up teammates on offense and registered a 6-foot, 10 1/4-inch wingspan that should also intrigue teams on the other end of the court. Wizards general manager Will Dawkins put on a brave face after watching his team drop on Monday and said the team is comfortable drafting at No. 6. But what happened to the Wizards in the lottery on Monday was anything but luck after finishing 18-64.

Johnson was the most impressive player I saw working out during my trip to the U.S. back in early April. He had one of the best shooting workouts I've ever seen from a teenage player, showcasing a serious-minded intentionality about how he goes about his craft. He displayed the ability to hit shots off movement at a high level, something that he rarely got the chance to do in an offensive scheme at Texas that could be charitably described as anachronistic but fairly described as hideously archaic. Even within that scheme, Johnson found his way into 19.9 points per game, even if he struggled a bit once he had to foray into the lane because of the team's lack of spacing and his own still-improving overall strength level.

Utah needs a backcourt of the future. Keyonte George looks like a backup long-term because of his inefficiency and defense, and while Isaiah Collier had an excellent season passing the ball, he still doesn't have a great way to score effectively. Johnson also fits really well within Will Hardy's scheme, as a player who can fly off screens and knock down shots at an elite level.

Pro Comparisons: Tyler Herro

Scouts believe Tre Johnson will remain in the top-five mix with eye-test approval on the self-creation and shotmaking that fueled his 19.9 points per game.

Workouts should only help his case, given how big of a role shooting plays in these settings, and how mechanically sharp and projectable Johnson looks.

Those scouts who aren't as confident in Johnson's upside question his ability to blow by or create for others. But there seems to be enough certainty tied to his perimeter scoring and competitiveness that there won't be much nitpicking in the No. 5-8 range.

Team Fit: With Keyonte George and Isaiah Collier handling the ball, Johnson gives Utah a pure shotmaker who may have enough size to play either wing spot.

Scouting report: Johnson is one of the draft's top scorers, capable of knocking down tough shots from all over the floor with a shoot-first mindset. He needs to round out several areas of his game -- finishing in the paint, playmaking for teammates and defensive consistency -- but NBA teams are drawn to his shooting, length and skill level. He has a good base skill set for a 2-guard, and if he can improve some of his tendencies over time, Johnson could be a strong building block for the future. -- Woo

NBA intel and fit: The NBA's youngest team, the Wizards have completely turned over their roster, front office and coaching staff over the past two years. And they still have plenty more room to grow, with several strong building blocks in place. Dropping four spots to the No. 6 pick can't be viewed as anything but a massive disappointment for their fan base, which endured an 18-64 season a year after sporting the NBA's worst record (15-67) and dropping to the No. 2 pick.

The Wizards will likely need to take a swing on the scoring talent of a player such as Johnson here and then take another run at next year's loaded lottery and hope that the basketball gods smile more favorably on them. -- Givony

Tre Johnson is built for buckets. Texas' freshman shooting guard led the SEC in scoring by putting up about 20 points per game on an impressive array of dagger jumpers. He has an elite shooting profile as a high volume (224 attempts) and highly accurate (39.7 percent) three-point shooter who also has fantastic touch (87 percent) from the free throw line. Johnson is weapon off set plays with an ability to sprint around screens and knock down shots. He plays with a fiery demeanor and a competitive edge that should be appealing to teams, but he's still learning how to make the right reads on the floor. Johnson isn't a mega athlete attacking the basket, and his passing vision is pretty basic to this point. He can be engaged at the point of attack defensively, but he's not a major defensive playmaker off the ball. Johnson will go as far as his jump shot takes him, and with one of the prettiest shooting strokes in this class, that's an enticing enough bet for a top-10 selection.

For some players, the NBA is the first time they're on a team with guys who are better than them. While Johnson showed some flashes of selfishness at Texas, he may actually be better suited for the pro environment—where his plug-and-play movement shooting can be an option rather than a team's main mode of scoring. Brooklyn is very much in a soul-searching phase, so it's hard to say exactly what he'll be plugging into. But they're also in a good spot to bet on upside. Johnson will need to improve defensively to avoid being a liability, and both his finishing and ballhandling will require some work before he gets into star territory. But the shooting translates. Sometimes, it's as simple as that.

Utah failed to win the No. 1 pick despite 14% odds — but landing at No. 5 gives it a chance to snag one of the five best prospects before a tier break. Johnson is a fine consolation to give the Jazz a young scoring guard who was a prolific shooter at Texas.

As crushing as it is for the Wizards to get leapfrogged in the draft, maybe it could end up a blessing in disguise. The Wizards were last in offensive rating this season, so they are badly in need of scoring punch from someone like Johnson. At Texas, Johnson showed he's a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. But he needs to continue developing his point guard skills while also honing his shot selection and dramatically improving his defense.