"AJ Johnson is too young and green. Why are the Milwaukee Bucks picking him this early?"
If you were on social media on draft night this past summer, you probably found yourself reading opinions like the one above. AJ Johnson was a bold pick from general manager Jon Horst, who went for a player who seemed like one of the least polished prospects of his generation despite the Bucks being in contention for a title. Since then, the narrative about Johnson's fit hasn't been optimistic.
AJ Johnson's timeline with the Milwaukee Bucks is unclear
He was believed to be far from NBA-ready, which isn't what you'd normally want on a contending roster. Teams in this kind of situation usually go for more experienced players, maybe the ones with a lower ceiling but with more chances of being impactful right off the bat. That makes sense because if you want to fight for the ring now, why would you go for a player who might not be helpful until two years from now? After all, Johnson is still just 19.
However, most things that are often said about draft prospects are nothing but pure speculation. Expectations, both good and bad ones, aren't always fulfilled, so young players are able to speak on the court and show things aren't necessarily as expected. And that's, of course, the case with Johnson, who could use a strong rookie season to change the narrative around him and suddenly look like a much better pick.
How could he do that? Let's talk about three goals he has to accomplish if he wants to have some immediate impact and help the Milwaukee Bucks be a championship contender again.