Jalen Johnson - WELCOME TO THE HAWKS!

[RandomFan]

Welcome our newest Hawk, Jalen Johnson

https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/jalen-johnson

 

Edited July 30, 2021 by RandomFan

[JayBirdHawk]

Welcome!  

I'll catch up on his videos later.

[ATLHawks3]

He was BPA. I just hope the character issues aren't a concern.

[NBASupes]

Yes sir! Best talent on the board. 

[AtlHomer]

You are more than a 'RandomFan' to know the pick before it was announced.  Who are you and what insight did you have?

[NBASupes]

 

[JayBirdHawk]

What's the quick down and dirty synopsis on Jalen? Strengths and Weaknesses?

[thecampster]

Just now, ATLHawks3 said:

He was BPA. I just hope the character issues aren't a concern.

No character issues. He's going to fill out that frame down the road two. He's going to play bigger than he is.

Gamble pick but one we can afford. Pretty sure Kai Jones was our pick there if Charlotte doesn't jump the line (and why they jumped up at 19).

[RandomFan]

Just now, AtlHomer said:

You are more than a 'RandomFan' to know the pick before it was announced.  Who are you and what insight did you have?

Twitter is a strange and mysterious place that holds all kinds of hidden and miraculous secrets. 

[NBASupes]

 

[RandomFan]

1 minute ago, thecampster said:

Pretty sure Kai Jones was our pick there if Charlotte doesn't jump the line (and why they jumped up at 19).

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. 

Jalen Johnson:

Pre-Draft Analysis

Strengths
- Impressive combination of strength and explosiveness at 6-9, 220 pounds. Strong lower body. Plays with physicality.
- Extremely versatile defender. Can shift anywhere from 1 to 5 in a pinch. Good instincts off the ball. Rotates for blocks and charges. Aggressive rebounder on both ends.
- At his best pushing in the open court. Fluid ball handler for his size and crafty passer. Excellent straight-line driver who can change speeds.

Improvement areas
- Rigid shooting stroke. Long release with mixed results. Doesn't have many ways to score in the half court outside of energy plays.
- A bit predictable as a shot creator. Likes to catch, jab right, drive left. A little too turnover prone for a playmaker.
- Not overly long relative to his height. Does he have enough offensive game to ever be more than a third or fourth option on a playoff team?

Projected role: Two-way combo forward

--Mike Schmitz

Post-Draft Analysis

The Hawks had an outstanding year that ended in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals and provided plenty of optimism and substance to build on long-term. With one of the NBA's biggest young stars in place in Trae Young and a plethora of versatile talent around him at every position, the Hawks main concern will be staying healthy and finding a way to keep their luxury tax situation in order as the likes of Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter see their rookie-scale contracts expire and expect major paydays that appear well-deserved.

Once considered a potential candidate for the No. 1 pick after a scintillating start to the college season, Jalen Johnson's star fell due to injury, inconsistent play, and an abrupt decision to leave Duke mid-season, which generated significant backlash. Regardless, few players in this draft share Johnson's talent as a 6-foot-9, ball-handling point forward who shows explosive athleticism and intriguing instincts defensively. His jumper will need to improve, but there are few players in this range of the draft who have as high a ceiling as Johnson does if he reaches his significant potential. --Jonathan Givony

Edited July 30, 2021 by RandomFan

[NBASupes]

http://www.tankathon.com/players/jalen-johnson

Productive AF

[thecampster]

2 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

What's the quick down and dirty synopsis on Jalen? Strengths and Weaknesses?

Plays with Confidence. Smoothness to his game for a player so big.  Capable but not willing shooter. Prefers to go at the glass. Sometimes takes the harder of 2 shots.

Elite athleticism, Needs to improve as a playmaker but a very difficult cover in transition, motion.

[RandomFan]

 

[thecampster]

So if I'm being honest, I was so sure he was going earlier that when they started talking about us taking him at the round table, I was like wait, didn't he get taken already?

He's good enough the thought of him being there at 20 wasn't even a thought.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2021-complete-two-round-projections-for-all-60-picks-starting-with-cade-cunningham-at-no-1/ Had him going 13.

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/2021-nba-mock-draft-90-final-mock-two-round-edition Had him going 12.

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft O'Conner had him going 16.  

 

It's fantastic value at 20.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[ATLHawks3]

I was a little down on him, because of how he left Duke in the middle of the season. I honestly thought he quit on his team. But there's no denying his lottery talent, and I hope for good fresh start with us. 

[RedDawg#8]

Great investment for when Gallo's time is up. 

If we re-sign JC, you're also looking at them sharing the same contract timeline over the next 4 years. JJ may be ready to step in as a starter when its time to re-sign him, and may allow us to move on from JC if he gets too expensive before his third contract.

This gives us a lot of flexibility now and going forward. No matter what happens with JC, or whether we decide to move Gallo early. JJ has time to learn and develop.

[Atlantaholic]

Will he play PF or SF? 

[JayBirdHawk]

4 minutes ago, ATLHawks3 said:

I was a little down on him, because of how he left Duke in the middle of the season. I honestly thought he quit on his team. But there's no denying his lottery talent, and I hope for good fresh start with us. 

Why'd he leave?

Just now, Atlantaholic said:

Will he play PF or SF? 

Saw he's a combo forward.