When Stanley Johnson finally got another crack at an NBA job, he entered health and safety protocols instantly. He failed to even play a single second for the Chicago Bulls. But the Los Angeles Lakers gave him another chance to prove himself worthy of a guaranteed NBA deal. Johnson's first game for the Lakers was on Christmas Day against the Brooklyn Nets, wherein he was part of the lineup that fell short of a huge comeback.
With that tremendous performance under the bright lights, acting head coach David Fizdale decided to insert him in the first unit against the Houston Rockets, wherein he played 31 minutes in a crucial nine-point victory. His 10-day contract is expiring soon, but it seems ideal to sign him to a guaranteed deal, especially after they have opened up a roster spot after the Rajon Rondo trade to Cleveland.
Constant boost of energy
For a team that is surrounded by veteran and experienced players, there are games wherein they lack the desire and motivation to hustle and fight for loose balls. Johnson's addition to their roster is remarkable because he could defend some of the best wings every night, which they have sorely missed from their championship squads. The term Three-and-D players could be heavily overused already, but it is still instrumental for any franchise to have a couple on their lineup.
The Lakers are one of the teams that are only stellar for certain stretches of games, but Johnson provides the energy and hustle that could influence others to play hard every possession. In the Nets matchup, he was not afraid of matching up with James Harden on every possession in the fourth quarter. He is not the most skilled or athletic player, but he knows that his length and lateral quickness is more than enough to disrupt the offensive flow of opponents.
Versatility, adjusting to various roles
When the Detroit Pistons selected him in the 2015 NBA Draft, they hoped he could be a building block in constructing their franchise around Andre Drummond. However, he never found his niche in a Pistons uniform as his best year was in 2017-18 wherein he averaged 8.7 points a game. Being able to tally those numbers for a winning organization like the Lakers will have a larger impact on his career.
Johnson has been a subpar long range shooter at 29.8% for his career, but he must enhance his shooting prowess in the Lakers offense because LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will create a ton of opportunities for him on corner threes. As he starts improving on his outside shot, defenses would close out quicker on his jumpers, so he must have the ability to attack the paint and covert buckets at the rim. His length makes it easier for him to get into the hoop and force defenses to challenge him.
Some of these individuals in the league are getting a rare chance to play in the NBA again due to a plethora of players on health and safety protocols. Many will relinquish their spots when teams start having a complete roster once again, but Johnson would have that rare opening in the Lakers roster. Many of their pieces excel with their offensive skill set but lack the defensive awareness and IQ to stay on the game for longer periods. With the signing of Johnson, it gives them more options to matchup well with teams that have talented wings at their disposal.
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