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The Phoenix Suns made real waves in the 2019 NBA Draft when they selected North Carolina swingman Cam Johnson with the No. 11 pick. Johnson had been a potential first-round pick, but few mock drafts had him off the board before the end of the lottery.
While Johnson may not have been regarded as one of the most talented guys in the draft, he certainly is one of the most polished in terms of collegiate experience and success. After all, Johnson averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds last year while shooting an astounding 45.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Apparently, other NBA teams may have been higher on Johnson than they initially led on. According to Arizona Sports Radio Talk Show host John Gambadoro, one team claimed that Johnson was the best shooter they had seen since Klay Thompson.
Take it for what it is worth – spoke with a NBA team, not Phoenix, that worked out Suns first round draft pick Cam Johnson pre-draft – said he was the best shooter they have seen since Klay Thompson. Said his workout was ridiculous based on his ability to catch and shoot.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 27, 2019
His shooting ability is all the more enticing given his length (close to a 7-foot wingspan), and Johnson's quick release should translate extremely well at the next level.
Johnson will join Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton on a Suns team that certainly has young talent, but has still failed to realize their full potential. He has some room to grow defensively and could stand to put on some muscle, but Johnson's upside as a shooter to compliment Booker and Ayton proved to be too much for the Suns to pass up.
It is worth noting that Thompson evolved into one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. The Suns will likely struggle in terms of team defense, but there is no reason that Johnson (who has a somewhat similar build to Thompson) could morph into a successful two-way player.
