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After day one of the NCAA tournament, millions can kiss the perfect bracket goodbye. Bracket busters brought tears to eyes, especially for me (c'mon Ohio State). But as the next lineup of madness approaches, some prospects for the Thunder will showcase what they can do. With the Thunder receiving an upgraded draft pick, my eyes will be on the man in white, the 2014 Pac-12 player of the year, Nick Johnson.
Nick Johnson, a shooting guard on the number 1 ranked team Arizona, will face off against Weber State as he campaigns to be a first round pick. Johnson is notoriously known for his scoring and although the Thunder need to focus on other aspects, Johnson brings much more to the table. At the University of Arizona, Johnson averages 16.2 PPG, 4 RPG, and 2.8 APG. Standing at 6'3'' and weighing in at 200 lbs, Johnson plays bigger than he is despite his lack of position and size (but he flies high).
Johnson creates his shots and has a caliber of runners, pull-ups, and step-backs. Johnson thrives on pick and rolls and gets a majority of his offensive production in transition. Running with Westbrook and Durant in the transition will make the Thunder even more athletic.
Defensively, Johnson is sneaky and intense. He is usually found guarding the opposing best perimeter player. He is quick to contest and steal and can guard the paint too.
Johnson gets to the charity stripe easily and shoots from behind the arc well. He would make for a nice guard to come off the bench and drill a three or two.
On the Thunder, Johnson would have to change roles. With the best scorer and a top scoring point guard on the floor, Johnson will have to become more of a contribution to the perimeter defense, and we all know that OKC needs some help in that part of the game. Offensively, Johnson will need to score off of breaks and three pointers, since his mid-range needs some work. If utilized correctly, Johnson can serve as another impact player that the opponents need to worry about and always keep an eye on. (Watch him today against Weber State)
What do you think? Is Nick Johnson a viable Thunder draft candidate?
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