He dropped ten points and ten boards in the Nets’ opening loss to the Kings. He followed that up with 19 points and seven rebounds in Brooklyn’s win over the Warriors. Across four Summer League games, Johnson has been among the most impressive Nets, alongside Egor Demin. In doing so, he’s making a strong case for real minutes next season.<\/p>\n
The Nets wing position is a little crowded at the moment. Michael Porter Jr.<\/a> and Julius Randle<\/a> will start every game that they’re healthy and on the roster. That leaves some bench minutes on the board for someone to claim. Noah Clowney seems likely to be the first option for Jordi Fernandez, leaving Johnson to battle with Danny Wolf and Joshua Jefferson for playing time.<\/p>\n Wolf has also played well in Summer League, and the team invested a first-round pick in him last draft. He should get a real opportunity. Jefferson was a late first-rounder this year and could see more time in the G-League. With the Nets in need of a backup center, maybe Fernandez tries Wolf or Johnson in that role. He’ll need to get creative to ensure all of those guys get a shot this season.<\/p>\n Whether or not it leads to more playing time in Brooklyn, Johnson’s Summer League performance has put him on the map for the entire league. He’ll get a shot somewhere to prove he can be an everyday NBA contributor. The only question is whether that shot will come in Brooklyn or somewhere else. <\/p>\n
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