Denver Nuggets Power Rankings: No. 15, Nick Johnson
The Denver Nuggets’ preseason roster includes 19 players, and the team will try to figure out which 15 of them deserves a shot during the regular season throughout the team’s seven-game exhibition slate.
But, for now, how do these players stack up? We polled our staff writers and editor at Nugg Love to get a consensus power ranking of every player on the roster, and we’ll be releasing one player each day from October 5 to 23, starting from No. 19 and finishing at No. 1.
Nick Johnson is a super athletic combo guard who arrived in the Ty Lawson trade. Where does he fit in the Nuggets’ short- and long-term plans? Let’s take a look.
Who Is Nick Johnson?
When Johnson was a junior at the University of Arizona he was a top prospect at the college basketball level. With a smooth scoring touch and superior athletic ability, few Pac-12 defenders were able to slow him down on his way to becoming a consensus first-team All-American.
But the NBA is a different animal and after getting drafted in the second round in 2015 by the Houston Rockets, Johnson found his opportunities and impact to be less than expected.
His shooting percentage hovered around 35 percent with a pedestrian 3 point percentage below 30 percent. On July 20, 2015, Johnson’s career took another turn when he was included in the Houston Rocket’s offering for Ty Lawson in a trade that the Rockets hope is their final piece on the road to a championship.
The 22-year-old second-year guard now gets a chance to continue his career with the Denver Nuggets in 2015-2016.
Strengths:
The adjustment to the NBA was a tough one for Johnson, but there are still many who believe his physical skills can translate to an effective NBA career. In college, Johnson was a slashing scorer who created matchup issues for guards who were not quick or aggressive enough to slow him down. Decent shooting range out to the three-point line made getting to the rim even easier for the 6’3″ guard.
But Johnson will find a crowded backcourt that includes Will Barton, Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Gary Harris already in place. The collection of players includes specific skill sets for each player: defensive ability for some, scoring capability for others.
Johnson may have a shot to make the roster since his athletic ability is a huge boost to his skills on both ends of the floor.
Weaknesses:
Johnson never demonstrated an ability to score consistently during his rookie year in Houston. Despite good performances whenever he was sent to the D-League, where he averaged over 18 points and 5 assists per game, his opportunities were few and far between in the talented Houston Rockets lineup.
Johnson’s size is fine for a speedy point guard, but as a combo guard it becomes a liability when matched up against swingmen. Johnson hopes to have more chances to find his niche on the Nuggets roster.
2015-2016 Outlook:
For the Nuggets, Nick Johnson represents another asset at the shooting guard/combo guard position that could provide stability at that position for Denver, should he make the roster.
The Nuggets will probably carry five to six wings on their 15-man roster, with the ever-versatile Wilson Chandler able to also give some minutes as a big guard if matchups dictate. Johnson will have every chance to place himself in the top six players, but he will need to show consistency and improvement during the preseason if his hope is to cement his position. In the early preseason, the Nuggets have used Johnson sparingly, but his talent is tantalizing so expect him to get more shots as the new coaching staff determines if he is a fit for the 2015-2016 Nuggets.
The Nuggets could really find themselves with a gem that can help them play fast and play defense if Johnson can improve his shot selection and accuracy. The trade that moved and shaped Denver for the next decade has opened the door for Emmanuel Mudiay to take command of the team.
The Nuggets are still looking for Mudiay’s full-time running mate. With some opportunity and hard work, Nick Johnson may just get that chance.