Redrafting the 2019 NBA Draft: Injury concerns and flawed greatness

Cameron Johnson was the biggest lottery surprise of 2019. Originally projected toward the back end of the first round, Phoenix made the shocking decision to draft the four-year senior with the No. 11 pick. It’s fair to say he rewarded the Suns for their confidence, quickly emerging as a reliable 3-and-D wing and essential contributor for the West’s most prolific regular season team.

The NBA Draft is often a battle of ideology. What do teams value most: floor or ceiling? While Johnson might not have “star” upside, he’s a bonafide starter who can thrive in virtually any team context. He’s a 40 percent 3-point shooter and a versatile defender at 6-foot-8.

There are questions about what kind of contract Johnson will command next summer, but that’s a good problem to have in Phoenix’s position. He’s older than most players in the draft, but even at 26 years old, it’s impossible to keep Johnson out of the lottery here. Elite role players often end up providing much more value than theoretical stars.

Johnson should have a long career ahead of him. He won’t provide much on the periphery — he’s not prolific on the glass and he’s not going to create much off the dribble — but Johnson will bury multiple 3s per game, play selfless connective basketball, and provide positional flexibility on defense.