It has not been an easy start to a career for AJ Johnson. In fact, that may be underselling it pretty significantly.
It's been a really, really hard start to a career for AJ Johnson. He's been traded four times in two years, has shown flashes in different cities only to be immediately replaced, and has failed to find enough security or playing time to unleash the talent that made him a first-round pick in the first place.
There's so much there to work with, and yet, NBA franchises continue to abandon him at the first chance to do so. There are obviously some warts, but if the Indiana Pacers want a low-cost flyer who could become an impact player, there's no reason it can't be Johnson.
After being dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans, AJ can be rerouted on his own (he cannot be aggregated with other contracts) immediately.
Considering the Pelicans need a better center option next to their star fours (Zion Williamson and Derik Queen), a straight swap of Jay Huff for Johnson would work and offer the Pacers an upside play at the cost of a player they likely weren't going to use much anyway.
While some may argue that this is not the right player, whether by archetype or specifics, to trade for right now. However, it is simultaneously easy to imagine the player Johnson could become if put in an organization that would bring back the joy he needs now.
A rough, rough start
When he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, he was expected to be a project player with all the tools to succeed, but little of the know-how. The young wing had a tiny role under head coach Doc Rivers before being traded to the Washington Wizards alongside Khris Middleton in a deal for Kyle Kuzma.
In DC, Johnson took a step forward, flourishing as a part of a bench unit that was asked to be little more than apocalyptic. Instead, they were simply bad and fun. Johnson was an excellent lob finisher in the fast break and continued to show some shooting ability to pair with his transitionary brilliance.
This is the period to point at if you believe in Johnson. During this time, he was clearly stepping into a role that suited him and putting up decent numbers and impact along the way. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. It was a home.
Since then, the floor has fallen out.
Immediately following his breakout 20 games, the Wizards drafted Tre Johnson and Will Riley, elevated Kyshawn George, and traded for any number of wings and forwards.
Overnight, Johnson's place disappeared. He fell out of the rotation and was then dumped in Dallas first, then Memphis, and now New Orleans. The once-excited teenage prospect stopped smiling and failed to earn any opportunities in a Mavericks jersey before the end of the season.
However, there is still a player there. Maybe his impact stats have been the impediment to him earning a role, but it's worth noting that he has only played on terrible teams – of course, his on-off numbers are going to be awful!
He has all the talent to solve the wing rotation for a team already looking for an X-Factor at that spot.
The Pacers don't have a ton of assets left to make a massive move. If they want to get younger and better, finding second-draft options who fit the team may be the best approach to do so.
There's no reason AJ Johnson can't be a part of that revolution.
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