2021 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Chicago Bulls leap up the lottery, land their next big star
By Ian Levy
Keon Johnson. 8. player. 81. . Wing. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors ended up not trading Kyle Lowry but it’s clear there are some fairly big changes coming for this roster. At this range of the draft they’re unlikely to find an already defined piece they could select to intentionally anchor and shape a specific vision for the next iteration of this team. But there are plenty of players like Johnson — immensely talented, versatile and malleable enough to grow along with the rest of a roster in flux.
Johnson is going to be a poster dunk machine at the next level but he’s also one of the strongest wing defenders in the class, with an enticing mix of physical tools and relentless intensity. The Raptors already have a strong set of wing defenders in OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam but Johnson helps build on strength.
On offense, he’s still very much a project. He shot under 30 percent from the 3-point line as a freshman and finished with more turnovers than assists. But he came to basketball late and has already shown tremendous growth as a passer and secondary creator. As he gets more reps he’s going to become a more polished scorer and could compliment a variety of primary pieces.