AJ Johnson didn't work out for the Milwaukee Bucks. He didn't work out for the Wizards. Now the former first-round pick is on his way to Dallas in a trade that brings Anthony Davis to Washington. Just maybe, joining a young Mavericks team in need of guard play is the fresh start he needs.
New opportunity awaits after Johnson struggled with Wizards
Davis is the headliner of the trade, but the Mavericks also emptied out their backcourt by sending D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum, along with him, to Washington, per ESPN's Shams Charania. In exchange, the Wizards sent them Johnson, Khris Middleton, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three seconds.
If the Mavericks don't make any more moves, Johnson will join a backcourt with few experienced ball handlers. Brandon Williams, Max Christie, and Ryan Nembhard have found places in the rotation. Cooper Flagg has the keys to the offense as a point-forward. Behind them, though, the depth chart is wide open for Johnson to carve out a niche for himself on his third team in 12 months.
Two drafts ago, the Bucks chose Johnson with the 23rd pick out of the G League, gambling on a then-19-year-old prospect with athletic upside. He appeared in just seven games, however, before being flipped at the deadline, along with Middleton, in the Kyle Kuzma trade.
The Wizards granted Johnson a fair audition, giving him 11 starts in 22 games last season. The young guard showed flashes, averaging 9.1 points and 2.6 assists, but struggled from the field and on defense. At 6-foot-5, Johnson has decent height for a guard but is also lightweight, leaving him vulnerable to more physical matchups.
Washington made their stance on Johnson clear this season by playing him less than 10 minutes per contest in 25 games. He failed to impress in his limited reps, producing 2.8 points per night while shooting 32 percent from the field.
Perhaps a change of scenery is the boost he needs to grow. Although he will go down as a bust for the Bucks, Johnson is still just 21 years old and clearly has the athletic tools and handle to be a successful playmaker in the NBA.
By trading Davis, the Mavericks embrace the rebuild that was already happening. At 19-31, they are still a level above the leading tier of lottery teams, neck and neck with Milwaukee and Memphis.
Experimentation in the name of losing is in their best interests, and that could be a green light for Johnson. If Dallas pursues a tank in earnest, he should see a legitimate opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation.