Orlando’s March Madness Prospect Watch: Arizona’s Stanley Johnson
Arizona swingman Stanley Johnson could be just what the Magic need to round out a very tough defensive starting five — and he can shoot the rock.
At this point, it still may be about selecting the best available player for Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan in the 2015 draft. While the Magic certainly seem all set in the starting backcourt, and most likely at the center position as well, the swingmen and interior defense is due for an upgrade.
Arizona’s Stanley Johnson offers a chance to fill the former of those needs—quite perfectly, in fact.
Gametime: 5:15 PM EDT, TV: CBS
What makes Johnson so very intriguing is that his upside is higher than incumbent combo forward Tobias Harris.
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While Harris has proven to be an effective scorer from the wing, he is an average defender at best. And, average just does not cut it at a position loaded with premier scorers. Johnson offers that plus-defense that could enable the Magic to round out the starting five with entirely premier defenders.
Beyond those tersely summarized benefits, there is also the element of cutting payroll by parting with Harris, which would open up the money to chase a max-contract star. Maybe that is the best reason of all, as it is. Johnson’s salary could end up being only a quarter of what Harris ends up commanding this summer.
And it is not as though Johnson fails to offer offense, either.
In second round play, Johnson had a superb game, shooting an ultra-efficient 8 of 11 from the floor including 4 of 5 from 3-point range en route to 22 points. He snagged five boards, made a couple of great looks to teammates and even impacted the game with some break-igniting defensive plays.
Granted, this was No. 2 seeded Arizona facing lowly Texas Southern in a predictable blowout win.
Facing No. 10-seeded Ohio State and anotehr high-ranking draft prospect in point guard D’Angelo Russell tonight may offer a bit more of a challenge — though by no means is Arizona expected to endure a major test at this point.
Even so, while the Buckeyes are not the juggernaut of years past, they are a quality opponent, well coached and dynamically engaging offensively.
In other words, pay close attention to how Johnson puts his defensive pressure on Ohio State’s star combo guard D’Angelo Russell, if an when they are matched up. While there is no certainty Johnson will be assigned to him defensively, it is certainly within the realm of reason that he finds himself covering the freshman should he get going offensively especially. Johnson is actually slightly quicker than Russell and moves his feet laterally well enough to befuddle him with length and smart defense.
There’s not much of a reason to expect Ohio State to pull this major upset, and the game may not even be as close as the 9.5-point spread set in favor of the Wildcats, but this game is a chance to see if Johnson can protect his reputation as a top defender against an Ohio State team that features a player projected to go in the top-5 this June.