2021 NBA Draft — 9. Keon Johnson, Sacramento Kings
Keon Johnson set the NBA Combine record with a 48-inch vertical leap. He is one of the draft’s most explosive athletes, which in and of itself brings a certain appeal. At 6-foot-5, he can not only jump out of the gym, but explode past defenders with a quick first step.
The Kings are still in no position to compete and could fall in love with Johnson’s toughness and upside. He’s already a plus defender, with the quickness and length to stifle ball-handlers at the point of attack. He makes excellent use of his athletic gifts on that side of the ball, and it’s no secret the Kings’ defense could get better.
The issue for Johnson is offense, where he’s still a raw athlete and not much else. The 3-point shot needs work, and he won’t be doing any advanced ball-handling in the near future. With time and patience, however, the Kings could unearth a gem.