Keon Johnson

[blazerkor]

Acrually, you have that one backwards chief. It doesn’t matter what people thought or felt about the trade. All that matters is what actually happens after it. They clearly valued Keon. If he develops into a good player, their evaluation was correct and the value was proper. It’s been established that the success or failure of the trade was gonna hinge on his development.

I agree that the only thing we have now is our present situation but I think a lot of us want both for the horrible moves to benefit us as much as possible and for Cronin to be held accountable for sending out so much more value in trades this season than he brought in.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Acrually, you have that one backwards chief. It doesn’t matter what people thought or felt about the trade. All that matters is what actually happens after it. They clearly valued Keon. If he develops into a good player, their evaluation was correct and the value was proper. It’s been established that the success or failure of the trade was largely gonna hinge on his development.

Well, duh. Pretty obvious there. There are other potential assets here, as well, like the TPE (though, I'm sure most of us assume we won't do much with it given our team's history in using TPE's).

I actually was split on the deal and didn't care for it, but didn't hate it, either. We were a middling roster. The team took a big swing.

In the end.... my post wasn't expressing my actual thoughts on the deal, though. I was expressing my interpretation of folks' feelings on the deal. Some people are saying if you don't like the deal, you don't like Keon. And that isn't necessarily reality. You can like Keon and still not like the deal. You can feel like he's a young asset that at this moment might not be the ideal to put around Dame and Dame's timeline. For all we know, the team might try to build up his value and deal him again.

I liked Dale Davis when we acquired him. I hated the actual deal from the minute it was announced. Doesn't change that I liked Dale. But I still thought it was a horrific deal (and time proved that correct). That's my point about the two things not being mutually exclusive.

 

[tykendo]

I do see some talent there, but actually like the prospects of Williams more. If we could combine the talents, and size of both, we'd really have something. It's just too early. But Williams looks more ready now, IMO.

 

[Scalma]

I do see some talent there, but actually like the prospects of Williams more. If we could combine the talents, and size of both, we'd really have something. It's just too early. But Williams looks more ready now, IMO.

I like both of them, but Williams pretty much has to score/shoot well to be more than a backup. If Keon develops properly he could still be a starter without necessarily being a scorer.

 

[Mr. Robot]

keon fg% (35.7%) is really bad, but his 3p% (37.7%) is good

i cant really speak about his game, given i dont watch our games anymore, but he might be a project like simons and i wish he got full season to play without pressure, it would do wonders for him

whats good for him is that chauncey billups isnt scared to play young guys unlike terry stotts, so theres that

 

[Mr. Robot]

I do see some talent there, but actually like the prospects of Williams more. If we could combine the talents, and size of both, we'd really have something. It's just too early. But Williams looks more ready now, IMO.

just looking at their stats, brandon has better fg% (38.7%), which isnt good, compared to keons (35.7%), which is even worse, but keon is having much better better 3p% (37.7%), compared to brandons (30.9%)

and brandon is two years older

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

If we could combine the talents, and size of both, we'd really have something.

fuck yeah. can you imagine having a player 12’6”?

 

[Hoopguru]

I agree that the only thing we have now is our present situation but I think a lot of us want both for the horrible moves to benefit us as much as possible and for Cronin to be held accountable for sending out so much more value in trades this season than he brought in.

Do you believe he has the job regardless of how the Pels puck goes or do you think they’re still performing a search?

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

From what I've seen, I think Johnson has a chance to be a rotation player on a pretty good team. I actually think he has a better than average chance to be that.

this kid is 18? Give him time with Dame and Ant and watch him bloom to an nba star within 4-5 years!

 

[Mr. Robot]

this kid is 18? Give him time with Dame and Ant and watch him bloom to an nba star within 4-5 years!

keon turned 20 in march

its his second season and has no real experience, played in only 32 games averaging 16.8 min per game, hes just getting started, so hes definitely a project and we shouldnt expect anything from him (except development) until his 4th season as he wont play next season given were gonna compete

 

[Scalma]

keon turned 20 in march

its his second season and he has no real experience, played in only 32 games averaging 16.8 min per game, hes got long road ahead of him, but im optimistic

He’s a rookie

 

[Mr. Robot]

He’s a rookie

its one season after another (but its the same when trade happens, so i got confused)

 

[blazerkor]

Do you believe he has the job regardless of how the Pels puck goes or do you think they’re still performing a search?

I don't know what function the charade of saying we are still interviewing would have, so I'll take Hankins at his word that the search continues. I do think there's a possibility that Cronin's job hinges on the Pelicans pick conveying but I also think there's the possibility in this interview process that someone with a bigger name points out that Cronin took bad deals and is installed as President of Basketball Ops. That would effectively demote Cronin while keeping him GM which might not be something Cronin would be interested in or it could be. Regardless if there is a new GM or a new President on the basketball side of things that Cronin would be under, that could change the entire direction that Cronin has been plotting out. It will be interesting to see what happens. I would rather keep Joe in charge and hope for fast learning/improvement on his part than lose the Pels pick.

 

[BBert]

Keon looked really good last night. So much potential. And Dame is his mentor. I expect good things.

 

[BBert]

In the short term Williams is more effective. In the somewhat longer term, my money is on Keon. And I don't think it will take that long.

 

[RR7]

In 17 games for Portland so far, Keon is putting up 9/3/2, with a steal in about 24 minutes per game. Shooting 37% from 3. In 7 games as a starter, he's averaging 12/3/2, shooting 44% from 3.
All of his advanced metrics are pretty ugly, but the kid clearly has some talent to work with, and his shooting from outside, which is what ultimately will get him minutes with us as a playoff team, looks far better than what he showed at college last season.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

keon turned 20 in march

its his second season and has no real experience, played in only 32 games averaging 16.8 min per game, hes just getting started, so hes definitely a project and we shouldnt expect anything from him (except development) until his 4th season as he wont play next season given were gonna compete

Yup, like I said, 4-5 years. But star potential similar to that of Ant, in my opinion

 

[wizenheimer]

it's kind of hard to gauge Johnson's shooting ability at this point. He's taken 72 three's and made 26 of them; 36.1%. But if he'd made 5 less he'd be at 29%. And 5 more he'd be at 43%. Meaning the sample size is just too small right now to make any real judgement. But maybe he can be a decent 3pt shooter. Of more concern is that he has taken 136 two's and is only converting 34.6% of them. His 3pt% is higher than his 2pt% and than seems weird

 

[damianlillard]

Yup, like I said, 4-5 years. But star potential similar to that of Ant, in my opinion

I don’t think so. I think he’s closer to Powell which would still be solid. Keon is solid at attacking the rim and slashing like powell. Someone who’s always putting in effort defensively. Okay obviously the different between the two is 3 point shooting. But there was a time powell struggled with that even

 

[Scalma]

I don’t think so. I think he’s closer to Powell which would still be solid. Keon is solid at attacking the rim and slashing like powell. Someone who’s always putting in effort defensively. Okay obviously the different between the two is 3 point shooting. But there was a time powell struggled with that even

tbf I think Keon is more advanced as a ball handler/playmaker than Simons was as a rookie. And he’s gonna be developed by Billups. Also he’s already a better passer than Powell imo, his assist % is higher than Powell’s career percentage. I think he’s got a shot to be a point.

 

[OneSport3]

it's kind of hard to gauge Johnson's shooting ability at this point. He's taken 72 three's and made 26 of them; 36.1%. But if he'd made 5 less he'd be at 29%. And 5 more he'd be at 43%. Meaning the sample size is just too small right now to make any real judgement. But maybe he can be a decent 3pt shooter. Of more concern is that he has taken 136 two's and is only converting 34.6% of them. His 3pt% is higher than his 2pt% and than seems weird

A lot of his 2pt FGA are him not finishing at the rim. Once he converts those finishes at the rim, that % should rise. Dame was a TERRIBLE finisher at the rim in his rookie season as well.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I don’t think so. I think he’s closer to Powell which would still be solid. Keon is solid at attacking the rim and slashing like powell. Someone who’s always putting in effort defensively. Okay obviously the different between the two is 3 point shooting. But there was a time powell struggled with that even

I meant that his potential is similar to Ant’s. As a youngster, give him 2-3 years under Dame’s guidance and Chauncey’s tutelage and he’s right there

 

[BankTeller]

tbf I think Keon is more advanced as a ball handler/playmaker than Simons was as a rookie. And he’s gonna be developed by Billups. Also he’s already a better passer than Powell imo, his assist % is higher than Powell’s career percentage. I think he’s got a shot to be a point.

It’d be exciting if he could turn into a Shaun Livingston type player for us. Haven’t watched most of the games Keon’s been in, but I saw a lot of post up game that I liked while watching highlight videos. Being able to play backup PG at his size means he should have a size mismatch most nights.
I loved and hated Livingston on those Warriors teams.

 

[wizenheimer]

A lot of his 2pt FGA are him not finishing at the rim. Once he converts those finishes at the rim, that % should rise. Dame was a TERRIBLE finisher at the rim in his rookie season as well.

that's a decent theory but I don't think the math supports it

he's had 208 FGA; and 136 2pt FGA. 29.9% of his shots have been at the rim; that = 62.4 shots at the rim. And he's converted 50% of those shots; 31.2 makes. Now, if he had a 55% conversion rate he would have made 34 shots at the rim instead of 31. If he had made 60% of his shots at the rim he would have converted 36 instead of 31

* so then, a 55% at-the-rim conversion rate would have elevated his overall FG% from .351 to .365. And it would have elevated his 2pt% from .346 to .368.

* and, a 60% at-the-rim conversion rate would have elevated his overall FG% from .351 to .380. And it would have elevated his 2pt% from .346 to .390.

it changes the numbers upward, but not significantly enough to elevate his numbers out of the abysmal zone

and by the way, as far as the Lillard comparison, it's one thing when a 6'2 guard shoots 53% as a rookie; it's another when a 6'5 guard shoots 50% as a rookie. I'm trying to think of a good Blazer comp in this area for Johnson. Trent didn't play enough or shoot enough to be a valid comp. Will Barton shot .542 at the rim as a rookie but has a career mark of .622. His overall FG% was a crappy .382, so maybe he's a workable comparison, but it was that low because Barton was 9-65 on three's (13.8%). Wesley Matthews shot .597 at the rim as a rookie.
***********************************

that's not to say he'll end up a bad shooter. The fact that increasing his made FG's by 3 or 6 changes his numbers that much shows how small a sample size he has. He's in his rookie season; will play less than half of the games; has played for 2 different coaches on 2 different teams in 2 different offensive systems. And he's had no consistency in role or minutes. That's a formula for uncharacteristically bad shooting. But his numbers are bad enough to be a concern. But it's a minor concern at this point IMO





just looking at those numbers, yeah, he should improve his at-the-rim FG%. But I'd say the biggest room for improvement he could have would be if his assisted FG rate increases. And I'd think that would happen once he plays more with Dame, Simons, and Williams/Dunn. His corner-three conversion rate is really poor as well. That should get better. His minutes have mostly come when the Blazer G-league lineup has been free-lancing. Need to see how he responds in a better system with better playmakers getting him more catch-n-shoot and spot-up shots

 

[Scalma]

A lot of his 2pt FGA are him not finishing at the rim. Once he converts those finishes at the rim, that % should rise. Dame was a TERRIBLE finisher at the rim in his rookie season as well.

he’s just gotta trust his athleticism and be more aggressive. Im sure it’ll come with time because in college he was a good finisher. He’s probably just giving too much respect to defenders, which is leading to a bunch of difficult shots.

 

[Scalma]

Shooting 44% from the field and beyond the arc the last five games, averaging just under 16 points and over a steal per. Also would have more assists if scrubs like Elleby could knock down an open shot.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Shooting 44% from the field and beyond the arc the last five games, averaging just under 16 points and over a steal per. Also would have more assists if scrubs like Elleby could knock down an open shot.

Much more calm and under control than one would normally expect from someone whose calling card is supposed to be other-worldly athleticism.

 

[TBpup]

Great to see him grow. 20 and 19 points in back-to-back games, but not a single FT in either one. Hopefully that comes with time and it will not only increase his efficiency, but open up other scoring opportunities and make him even more of a threat.

 

[Hoopguru]

I think Keon is talented and could be a starter down the road somewhere, however, if Cronins mission is to make it Dame time and leap into contention asap, I just dont see room for too many youngsters on the team, come fall.
I think Joe could use the ones under contract in trades, but I just dont see more than 2/3, young non role players on the team and that would include maybe 1 draft pick this year. Yeah there is the G league or two way.
I expect the next 1/2 years to be all in, on getting Dame in contention with min players and season vets.

 

[Mr. Robot]

if keon develops into some player, that clippers trade might look different in a hindsight

lets see if joe cronin saw something nobody has