2021 NBA Mock Draft — 16. Jalen Johnson, Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC has long placed a premium on long, athletic prospects who can improve over time. With no desire to win games, fit is not a huge issue. Jalen Johnson has as high a ceiling as anybody in this range, with a bulldozer of a 6-foot-9 frame, elite open-court speed, and tremendous upside as a jumbo playmaker.
Fans of a certain Philadelphia-based franchise may be wary when looking over Johnson’s profile — he’s big, athletic, and excels in the open court, but he can’t shoot and struggles to generate buckets in a confined halfcourt setting. Not every prospect is Ben Simmons, though, and most players grow year-to-year. OKC has plenty of time and freedom on its hands, and Johnson would join a team of young athletes primed to run the floor and play hard, physical defense.
As a versatile four who can defend multiple positions and provide a playmaking boost in transition, there’s clear appeal in Johnson. Even if he never becomes a dynamic halfcourt scorer, his instincts as a passer, combined with his length and speed, should make him a viable roll man who can pass on the move and contribute in other ways.