Perhaps Wes Johnson wishes he’d stayed at Syracuse and played out his senior season. Not that he thought twice about leaving in the first place Рwhy risk injury or a drop in your draft stock by waiting a year, when you can guarantee yourself millions now?
But almost 11 months after his decision to take his talents away from Central New York, the biggest problem with that choice turned out to be that Wes couldn’t control where his talents landed.
It’s largely unknown how Wes’ professional career will turn out. His rookie year has been underwhelming, if not extremely disappointing. Take a closer look though, and you’ll see that it could be going a lot better if his team knew how to properly utilize his skills.
The Timberwolves have a long history of mismanagement. Their current GM, David Kahn, and head coach Kurt Rambis, haven’t been in town for long, but they already seem to be doing a nice job of adding to that history.
Selecting three point guards in the first round of the same draft and trading away the one that actually panned out (Ty Lawson); dealing a promising young power forward in Al Jefferson to Utah for not nearly enough value in return (Kosta Koufos and lottery-protected picks); Stubbornly trying to install a complicated offensive system that’s clearly preventing a young team from developing properly; Constantly misjudging the strengths and weaknesses of their own players. These are all crimes that the Kahn/Rambis regime has committed against the Timberwolves franchise and its fans.
Johnson, who Minnesota fans seem to think is just another failed Kahn draft pick, may simply be a victim of his coach’s cluelessness.
A T-Wolves columnist for Bleacher Report wrote: “Wesley Johnson has been so sub-par that it is baffling. Scouts were raving about this do it all small forward, some saying he would challenge for rookie of the year.”
Yeah, well, it’s kind of tough to be a quality small forward when your coach has played you atshooting guard more than 80 percent of the time (82games.com). Imagine that, a 6-7 rookie who played primarily power forward in college (SU’s preferred lineup last year: AO/Rick—Wes—Kris—Andy—Scoop), asked to slide all the way down to shooting guard. One year Wes is playing on one of the wings of Boeheim’s zone, the next he’s chasing the likes of Ray Allen around an endless supply of picks. That’s just not what he’s built to do.
On offense, the lengthy Johnson has been relegated to the role of spot up shooter, and nothing else. DraftExpress takes an in-depth look at how terribly Kurt Rambis is misusing the former ‘Cuse star.
‚ÄúLast season Johnson attempted 170 jump shots compared to 140 shots around the basket for the Orange, whereas this year he’s already taken 184 jump shots compared to just 35 shots around the basket, being transformed into essentially a one-dimensional role player.‚Äù
‚ÄúFrom an isolation standpoint, Johnson has performed about as well as expected, not having the advanced ball-handling to break his man down and showing even less of the go-to scoring instinct than he did in college. His move from power forward to the shooting guard position has exasperated these problems further, as now he’s going against quicker defenders with lower centers of gravity, making it even more difficult for him to get the first step and tempting him further to shooting over his now shorter opposition.‚Äù
Like most players, Wes has his flaws. While his balance and leaping ability allow him to finish effectively once he’s able to penetrate, he’s not a great driver. Why Rambis thinks the solution to that problem is dragging Wes farther away from the paint and making him drive by quicker players is beyond me. Hopefully Wes will get to play for another coach soon, and the new coach will realize that feeding Wes the ball in more opportune situations is key. Let him use his athleticism as a slasher, making off-ball cuts to get open and catch the ball one dribble or less away from the basket.
‚ÄúThe most interesting thing about Johnson’s decline is not his struggles in isolations, which was to be expected at least initially, but how little the Timberwolves have utilized him cutting off the ball, something he excelled with at the collegiate level. Off-ball cuts comprised 16.1% of his offensive possession at Syracuse according to Synergy (the highest rate among all small forwards in the draft last year), and that number has dropped to just 4.4% in the pros.‚Äù
There are so many things that Wes can do well. Not necessarily great at any one skill (besides percentage shooting), it’s vital that he makes good use of his many strengths. It’s not surprising then that camping out beyond the three-point line has killed his game, as it completely destroys his versatility.
‚ÄúWhile Johnson’s post-up offense was not among his strengths in college, his ability to take advantage of mismatches on the block was at least occasionally utilized, with him scoring a solid 47 points on 48 possessions in the post last season. In the pros, he’s been posted up just six times the entire season even though he’s being guarded by players 1-3 inches shorter than him every night playing the two-guard position.
Further, Johnson’s offensive placement spending almost all of his time behind the three-point line has significantly hurt his offensive rebounding opportunities, with his pace adjusted offensive rebounds per 40 minutes dropping from 2.3 to 1.0, taking away one of his best strengths as a player.‚Äù
We’ve established that Wes as a shooting guard = bad thing. But even if Rambis must play him at the 2 spot, you’d think the coach would at least take advantage of Johnson’s superior height for the position. Why else play a 6-7 guy at guard in the first place?
It would be unfair to make it through this article without pinning some of the blame on Johnson himself. To a certain extent, he controls his own fate – he’s the one actually out there playing. But it’s clear that Rambis and Kahn don’t see a problem with the lanky swingman spending game after game parked 22 feet from the hoop, and they should.
Both front office and player have to be wondering what’s gone wrong. The answer is simple: poor player usage by Minnesota has highlighted Johnson’s weaknesses and buried his strengths. It’s time for both sides to think back on the skills that made him worthy of the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft, and to start taking advantage of them.
Posted: Andrew Kanell
274 responses to “Is “Can’t Miss” Wes Johnson a Timberwolves Draft Bust?”
Good day I am so thrilled I found your site, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Digg for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a incredible post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb work.
I am curious to find out what blog system you are utilizing? I’m having some small security issues with my latest site and I’d like to find something more safe. Do you have any recommendations?
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Appreciate it
Howdy! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Would enjoy to constantly get updated great web weblog ! .
Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
It’s remarkable designed for me to have a website,
which is useful in support of my experience. thanks admin
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after reading
through some of the post I realized it’s new
to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll
be book-marking and checking back frequently!
Now I am ready to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming yet again to
read more news.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out
a developer to create your theme? Great work!
It’s the best time to make a few plans for the longer term and
it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I may I desire to suggest you some fascinating things or suggestions.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I wish to read even more things about it!
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
Something else happened back then that changed the world completely: The
industrial production of foods. We dissolved the calcium cocoon around her muscles, organs and connective tissue with healthy drinks
to balance the p – H such as chlorophyll, diluted raw apple-cider vinegar or aloe vera.
There are two groups of pedigrees, autosomal and
sex-linked.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
peuterey originale
Some genuinely excellent blog posts on this site, appreciate it for contribution. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” by Cicero.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already Cheers!
Pour les gar√ßons, quand l’hiver get there, ils sont habitu√©s √† penser √† soit le chauffage √†
la maison ou les v√™tements gonfl√©. Mon fr√®re est assez vieux pour accorder additionally d’attention √† sa determine.
Je décide donc de lui acheter une vente mens moncler manteaux qui est
ma marque pr√©f√©r√©e de moncler femme doudoune. J’ai remarqu√© plus
BMW Audi et Mercedes sur la route (en partie parce que de moins cher que
le prix avant). Les récession vraiment fait des produits haut de gamme
semblent à la portée de la classe moyenne et
inférieure. Le as well as triste est que la plupart des gens le revenu
n’a pas augment√© vraiment.
Plus d’un consommateur a sugg√©r√© l’achat de la garantie prolong√©e qui a √©t√© pendant cinq ans comme la charpie pourrait rassembler
sous les joints et doit être retiré par un technicien. Certains consumers ont
sugg√©r√© que c’√©tait un d√©faut de conception de LG qui devait √™tre corrig√©e.
Les customers qui étaient très heureux noté ils ont nettoyé sous le sceau après chaque lavage et ils ont laissé la
porte ouverte apr√®s chaque programme pour permettre √† l’int√©rieur du tambour s√©cher
√† l’air.
Un nouveau design and style qui est s√ªr d’√™tre un succ√®s est le blouson buffle √†
carreaux avec un capuchon. Cette veste est une sorte de mariage de la
veste de bombardier traditionnel et la capuche. Ceux-ci
semblent très confortable et facile à porter ..
Canada Goose vestes sont souvent imités mais jamais égalé.
En fait, ils sont le seul fournisseur de vêtements de dessus
pour de nombreuses stations de recherche et des unit√©s militaires bas√©es dans le p√¥le Sud et d’autres r√©gions de l’Arctique.
Alors que de nombreuses marques ont adopté le cover en lourd avec de la fourrure
doubl√©e mod√®le de capot, c’est le Canada Goose pionnier et perfectionn√©.
:, Hunger Games Inspiré Arrow et Mockingjay96 de Katniss.
:, Vacances à thème chaussettes (de / fille de la femme Convient Age 13, 52:..,
Humping renne de flocon de neige de camionneur de maille Chapeau Ugly60 Les États de la Nouvelle
Angleterre abritent de nombreuses esp√®ces d’oiseaux,
dont certaines migrent vers le sud en hiver et d’autres qui restent l’ann√©e.
Alors que certains de ces oiseaux sont identifiables par leurs couleurs, les gens
peuvent reconnaître quelques-uns par leur comportement.
Dans certains cas, l’appel ou chant d’un oiseau permet √† une personne de distinguer imm√©diatement une
esp√®ce d’oiseaux d’une autre esp√®ce.
We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be what precisely I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content in your case? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome weblog!
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Kudos
Very good site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get feed-back from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thanks a lot!