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Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

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  • #1

    Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

    With the 2012 NBA draft now rapidly approaching, the profiles shift into high gear on this sundrenched Sunday afternoon, with the 9thprofile in this year’s series, the dynamic shooting guard from California-Santa Barbara, Orlando Johnson. Already in this series I’ve profiled Arnett Moultrie, Fabricio Melo, Moe Harkness, Jeff Taylor, Marquis Teague, Tyler Zeller, Royce White, and Andrew Nicholson….you can find their profiles elsewhere on this site.

    An extremely under the radar player playing out on the west coast in a mid major conference, Johnson is a player than not many Pacer fan sare paying attention to at the moment. Perhaps after reading this assessment, that may change.

    Measuring in at the NBA combine at just over 6’5, weighing around 225lbs, and possessing nearly a 7’0 wingspan, Johnson clearly has the prerequisite size to be an ideal NBA 2 guard, with the strength to occasionally guard bigger players, and with the attributes and length to perhaps project to guard some point guards, giving him a high level of defensive flexibility in how he might be used. Johnson was a 5 year college player, and just turned 23 in March, making him one of the older players in the draft.
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    It is very difficult to not be swept up into the emotions that accompany the tragic story that Orlando Johnson endured to get to where he is today. For those of you who know nothing of his background, I will lay it out for you:
    Growing up in California, Johnson (like many unfortunately are forced to do) grew up without ever meeting his father. Adding to the tragic nature of this story, while just a baby his mother was a murder victiin their hometown of Seaside California.

    Forced by circumstances to live in abject poverty, Johnson moved into a home with 10 other family members in what was not the nicest of conditions or neighborhoods. Then, at the age of 6, the house that he lived in with several brothers and cousins caught fire, killing 4 of his family members, including a young cousin named Angel, who had wanted to tag along with Orlando that day but at the last minute didn’t…that decision cost her her young life. His great-grandmother, his aunt that was raising him, and another young cousin also died.

    Then his grandmother took him in, doing her best to take care of her grandson late in her life. But death took her when Orlando was 11,and there he was as a 5th grader, with no parents or grandparents.

    At this point, his older brother Robbie and older half-brother Jamell jumped in, and decided to put their own lives on hold to take care of the young, emotionally scarred brother. Robbie was a professional basketball player in Croatia, and Jamell was an ex football player in college. Without them stepping up and putting their own priorities and dreams aside to raise their own brother , we likely would never have heard of Orlando Johnson today. Instead of another foster kid, bouncing through the system in abject poverty and despair, these 2 young men stepped up and did their community and family proud, and all of us will be rooting I am sure for Orlando Johnson on draft night, wherever he may end up. Very proud of his 2 older brothers and his long departed mother, Johnson still carries a picture of the 3 of them as his screen saver on his phone, a reminder that all 3 of them are still looking out for him to this day.
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    More so than in his college career, Johnson was helped out by several other venues, including doing extremely well at the LeBron James camp.

    Also of note, he played in the University Games last summer for Matt Painter of Purdue, with Brad Stevens of Butler as an assistant.Johnson (along with Draymond Greene and others) was as highly valued for a spot on this team for their character as their talent…..and in what I think is a telling story about his character, the US delegation chose him as the flagbearer for the entire United States athletic contingent at the games.


    …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦ …………………………….>
    Now, let’s take apart the game and skills of Orlando Johnson, and see what he brings to the table.

    Projecting any player from a low to mid major conference can be difficult, simply because of the lack of high level competition on a consistent basis, a lack of training staff/conditioning these small programs can afford, and in the style of play they are forced into out of necessity.

    For instance, Johnson spent a lot of time playing out of position, due to the Gauchos having so few options. He spent some time playing the point guard for them, and he had to play some power forward….how many college guys have to do that at a high major? Therefore, you almost have to look for traits and potential more than actual results.

    However, his results in any circumstance were outstanding. He averaged almost 20pts per game, despite seeing defenses geared to stop only him, and he shot an extremely high percentage from deep, nearly 43%. In someways this impressed me more than usual, because unlike most college players who only took basically wide open shots, Johnson took and made a large percentage of GUARDED three point attempts, basically because he had no choice due to the lack of talent at UCSB.

    Johnson’s shooting potential makes him special I think, and gives him the one potential skill that will be easily above average at the NBA level. The ability to make guarded tough shots not many possess.

    When you watch the other great shooter in this draft (John Jenkins of Vanderbilt), his release is lightning quick, so fast that it stands out to you when watching it. In Johnson’s case, it isn’t the speed of the release, it is that it is so high….Johnson has one of the best high releases I have seen in years, and it gives him a chance to play bigger than he is offensively, as he can score over bigger guys both off the dribble and from deep.

    While lacking an elite quickness or first step to get BY people, Johnson I think will be able to mostly just jump in the air and shootover them, and seemingly hit shots when you think you are guarding him closely….but yet, a defender won’t affect the shot much. In his release, I see a lot of Michael Redd in it, just in terms of how high he releases the ball. I think he can be that level of a deep shooter.

    Johnson is a crafty, tough minded scorer who can make tough shots. What I was worried about before studying tape on him that my friends sent me is that he was a stat stuffer against inferior competition, which would inflate his numbers….however, the reality was that the better the talent he played against, the better Johnson played.

    26 pts against San Diego State. 36 pts and 10 rebounds against UNLV. 24 pts and 10 rebounds against Washington (head to head against NBA fellow draftee Tony Wroten) 22 pts 9 boards against BYU. While the westcoast was a little weaker than normal this year, and while UCSB really wasn’t very good, when against better teams Johnson did get the job done.
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    Johnson is also very strong for a perimeter player. He has an NBA body right now, and it will only improve his athleticism and strength toget away from UCSB and into the NBA, where a team can provide him a strength coach and proper diet and weight program.

    His strength stands out to me, the way he plays. He isn’texplosive going to the basket really, but he can get a shoulder into you and score despite being bumped. He can play a little in the post, against guys roughly his own size, and he can score in traffic, despite not being overly quick. I don’t see him as a guy who will get his own shot a lot at the next level…..no one is going to run clearouts or anything for Johnson, but I do think he can be an asset as a ballhandler on the pick and roll, and I think eventually he can develop a nice pull up game.
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    I wouldn’t rate Johnson as a superior ballhandler, but I do think he will be a willing ball mover at the next level.

    He isn’t a point guard by any means, so he gives you no offensive positional flexibility, but he can handle the ball on a break, or attack the defense against a bad closeout. He is perhaps a bit too unselfish actually, surprising in some ways considering he basically had no help at UCSB.He makes the proper pass, and he delivers the ball well to others, although he isn’t creative at all….he isn’t a creator, but he isn’t a ball stopper either.I think in the higher level NBA play that he will be a guy who will basically be careful and risk averse with the ball, more than a guy who will try and force the issue.

    As a rebounder for his position, if he is a 2 guard he will rebound I think well above average for his position. He is strong as an ox,loves contact, is fundamentally sound, and has huge hands and a giant wingspan. More than anything I think he likes rebounding better than leaking out to try and score early, so he will always give you full effort on the glass. I suspectthat he will average somewhere around a rebound for about every 4 minutes played, a sort of benchmark number I use for bigger players I scout who I deem to be above average on the glass.

    Still, with him as your 2 guard, he’d fit better with a more ball dominant point guard I think….I think he will be more of a catch and shoot guy more so than a guy who handles the ball and makes decisions or big plays for you off the bounce.
    …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦ ……………………….>
    Where I think Johnson might be an undiscovered gem is as a defender at the next level.

    At UCSB, the played a mixture of zones and softer man defense, and they couldn’t afford to risk Johnson getting in foul trouble,because with him out of the game they had no chance. So, he had to be careful.

    But in the NBA level, I see him being potentially a shutdown level guy as a defender, due to his freakish length, intelligence, technique,body balance, and work ethic.

    A perimeter defender with a 6’11 wing span and a 39 inch vertical leap who plays hard all the time for you should be one of your best defenders, and I think he will be. He will be able to play slightly furtherback on quicker guys, and he still has the ability to elevate with 2 high hands and affect someone else’s jump shot that way.

    Being very strong with his upper body, he will be able to wall off drivers and take contact well, and he will be able to defend guys slightly bigger than him I think pretty well. There will be almost no NBA 2guards who will be able to consistently take him inside to the block, as he will be able to fight them for position and hold them off, plus be able to elevate and change shots in there.

    I also project him to be a hell of a tough guy to screen going forward, and this perhaps was my favorite thing about watching him play defense. When most defenders are screened, they stand up out of their stance and try and get around the screen, or avoid it somehow. But Johnson when screened instead does what most coaches prefer, which is to get LOWER in your stance and just bust thru it, going thru the top side of the screener, powering past the screener’s shoulder to stick with the cutter.

    2 high level NBA defenders stand out to me with this exact trait, Aaron Afflalo and our own Dahntay Jones, guys who are sticky strong defenders who opponents know like physical play, and who play well defensively in traffic…..I think Johnson will be that way too.

    …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦ ………………………
    So, what do we have in Orlando Johnson?

    I think we have an extremely high character, mature, veteran tough minded guard who projects to be a high level 3 point jump shooter and tough minded defender at the NBA level. Probably not a starter in most cases,but a definite high quality role player for you who can score big on some nights, while giving you high quality defense against more than one position every night.

    Is he an All Star level guy? Probably not, but if you had to pick someone with an extremely low risk factor who you could almost for sure help you win, this would be him I think. As a tough guy off the bench who could make big shots for you and defend his butt off for about 20-28 minutes a night,I think he easily finds a niche and plays in the league a long time with his shooting ability and high character.

    And while some would say at his age that his upside is limited, I disagree totally, for this reason: his potential is totally untapped right now, due to his lack of strength training at UCSB and the lack of high quality coaching and talent he has been exposed to. I think he can continue to improve his body and quickness with a full time trainer, and in this case, we know Johnson is a guy who will be receptive and coachable in every way.
    …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦ ……………………………
    For Indiana, sitting at #26, I think Johnson is very very interesting.

    While extremely under the radar at this point, we know that Indiana values high character in their front office perhaps more than most teams do. With the Pacers front office I think liking generally older, more mature players who can fill a specific role, I can easily see Indiana trying to decide whether Johnson can come in and play right away as a backup wing guy, perhaps filling the role of the free agent Barbosa, while saving us cap space to use in some other way.

    I think Indiana will be extremely interested in Johnson, and I think he would be a very solid pick at #26. If Indiana stays at #26 and IFTHEY DECIDE TO GO WITH A WING PLAYER, I think it might come down to Johnson and Jeff Taylor, and I suspect that Indiana would go with Johnson’s shooting over the slightly better athlete in Taylor, although it is very close in my mind….I actually like both players, as I am betting Indiana does as well.

    I’d say that due to his attitude, toughness, background,skill set as a shooter and defensive potential, that Indiana is about 50% to take Johnson on Thursday night….at this point, if we stay at #26, I think he is the MOST LIKELY selection for us to make, so Pacer fans need to start studying up on him more than they have so far.

    Johnson did work out with Indiana last week, but supposedly sprained his ankle early on in the workout. I hate to see conspiracies everwhere I look, but I wonder a little about that…..I wonder if that was just a way to throw people off the scent. I think in any event that an ankle sprain at this point would have any effect on our decision. I am assuming that we’ve got great information on Johnson already anyway, including 2 great resources onhis game locally at Purdue and Butler.
    …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦ ……………………………
    If Indiana passes on Johnson, I think the Bulls are very likely for him at #29, along with Miami at #27 and Oklahoma City at #28, all organizations that value character and defense.
    …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â €¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦ …………………………

    Current NBA comparison: Randy Foye with OJ Mayo’s body,Shannon Brown with a better jumper

    Past NBA comparison: If he hits his absolute ceiling, he reminds me a lot of Vinnie Johnson with that high release and strong body.

    As always, the above is just my opinion.

    Tbird
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

    Yeowza. Never heard of the guy but after reading this I may do some homework this week. Interesting.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

      I looked into Orlando Johnson a bit before this was posted, and he seems quite interesting (particularly his measurements): hands are 9" x 9.5", wingspan 6'11.25", 32" standing vert, 39.5" max vert, 11' 6.5" max vertical reach. However, I hadn't heard his story, which is definitely a tearjerker, one worthy of the silver screen. However, as far as using the 26th pick goes, I would much rather go for a big man or point guard (even Tyshawn Taylor looks good at this point). If we WERE looking for a wing player, though, I would probably reach a bit to get Johnson (using the term "reach" due to DraftExpress's mock saying he'll go 38th to the Nuggets, 12 picks after our first rounder). It would be nice if, while trading around the draft, we ended up with a pick between that range, with which we could pick him up (since we won't be able to go after someone like Austin Rivers).

      Great write-up, as usual. Thanks Tbird.
      witters: @imbtyler, @postgameonline

      Originally posted by Day-V
      In conclusion, Paul George is awesome.
      Originally posted by Slick Pinkham
      Our arena, their arena, Rucker park, it just doesn't matter. We're bigger, longer, younger, faster, and hungrier.


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      • #4
        Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

        I'm getting the same vibes I got when I first heard of a kid named Paul George (ironically, through a T-Bird draft analysis), if he's on the board at 26, I'm sold.
        "Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

        "And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "

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        • #5
          Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

          Originally posted by Sandman21 View Post
          I'm getting the same vibes I got when I first heard of a kid named Paul George (ironically, through a T-Bird draft analysis), if he's on the board at 26, I'm sold.
          That is if there is no big man there like Fab, or if Marquis and Quincy Miller are gone.
          First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.

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          • #6
            Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

            Originally posted by thunderbird1245 View Post
            I think Indiana will be extremely interested in Johnson, and I think he would be a very solid pick at #26. If Indiana stays at #26 and IF THEY DECIDE TO GO WITH A WING PLAYER, I think it might come down to Johnson and Jeff Taylor, and I suspect that Indiana would go with Johnson’s shooting over the slightly better athlete in Taylor, although it is very close in my mind….I actually like both players, as I am betting Indiana does as well.
            If it's between Jeffrey Taylor, who I really like, and Orlando Johnson, I hope Larry pulls off one of his 2-for-1 specials and tries to land both. I'd personally take Taylor first, but if the Pacers could land both guys in a single draft, I'd be elated. Shopping to acquire an early second rounder sounds very appealing. Even if Johnson is nabbed at the bottom of the first round, someone like Ezeli, Jenkins, or Green could still be there early in the second round and could work as role players.

            Others may disagree, but I personally think acquiring our role players from the draft is crucial for a small market team like the Pacers. Getting gems in rookie contracts can make a huge difference in keeping the budget manageable and competitive against big market teams with a vault full of gold as a budget.

            Thanks very much for your scouting report for Johnson, Tbird.
            Last edited by IndyPacer; 06-24-2012, 11:47 PM.

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            • #7
              Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

              Come ooooon, Pritch! Buy us another late first-rounder!


              "He’s no shrinking violet when it comes to that kind of stuff."

              - Rick Carlisle on how Kevin Pritchard responds to needed roster changes.

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              • #8
                Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                If it's between Taylor and Johnson, if both are pretty much on equal footing and you can't really go wrong with either.....then I'd rather go with Taylor. If neither is better than the other in any great aspect ( as in, it's obvious that one is the clear choice over the other ), than I'd rather go with the Player that fills a need. If all things are equal...then I'd rather have positional need be the deciding factor.

                Also.....from most of the Mock Drafts that I have seen.....Orlando Johnson is a early 2nd round pick at best....if we want to go after him...get a 2nd round pick.
                Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

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                • #9
                  Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                  Originally posted by DrFife View Post
                  Come ooooon, Pritch! Buy us another late first-rounder!
                  Ooooooorrr any other first-rounder!
                  witters: @imbtyler, @postgameonline

                  Originally posted by Day-V
                  In conclusion, Paul George is awesome.
                  Originally posted by Slick Pinkham
                  Our arena, their arena, Rucker park, it just doesn't matter. We're bigger, longer, younger, faster, and hungrier.


                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                    Originally posted by DrFife View Post

                    Come ooooon, Pritch! Buy us another late first-rounder!

                    With whos money? It won't be with Herb Simons! Name 1 pick that Simons has ever bought? Herb Simon isn't Paul Allen.

                    Prichard picking up a pick in a trade, sure that's feasible. I'd reeeeeally like the Pacers to work out a deal with the Cavs for their #33 & 34 picks. There are some players I feel could help the Pacers in the 2nd round. There are players who could be the scorer off the bench Bird wants, there are players with size, and there a couple of possible PG.

                    Do I expect that to happen? No. I won't be one bit surprised to hear the same old company line... we tried but we just couldn't make a deal that we thought would help us, or we tried but the asking price was too just too much, or we drafted player X who was the player we were wanting all along. We couldn't believe he was available at our pick. Blah blah blah.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                      Mocks have Orlando Johnson somewhere in the 5-8 range of the 2nd rd. He sounds interesting in that he's tuff, has a good wing span to play "D", and can hit shots. Sounds like he could be a scorer off the bench, not just a 1 dimensional type player. He seems the size of Stephenson, but can shoot the ball. Would there be enough room on the team for Stephenson and Johnson?? I don't see Bird picking him at #26.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                        Not with our first rounder. If the Pacers got one of the Cavs seconds, I'd want the Pacers to select Doron Lamb (if he's still there), but if not, then Orlando could be a nice option.

                        However, I really really want Jae Crowder in the 2nd.
                        First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                          Are these archived somewhere, like used be done in the past? Love these profiles!!

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                            I haven't watched this kid play. Gonna spend the night watching him in his conference tourney via espn3. I have heard of him but just didnt get to the tape he and Kyle O'Quinn I will be watching a lot tonight hopefully get through 5 games each gonna be a long night lol.

                            EDIT: just got done watching the 1st game. He really reminds me a lot of Brandon Rush the body the skill set they are pretty similar. I think his handle isnt as good as it appears his team really didn't have a good lead guard (Casper Wear really exposed that). I dont think he can create his own shot but I do like that he can bring the ball up if need be. I will keep watching and adding far from conclusions he is defiantly interesting as a shooter/defender off the bench.


                            speaking of Casper what a defender for his size wish he took better shots but what a defender is all I can say about that kid.
                            Last edited by pacer4ever; 06-25-2012, 07:48 PM.

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                            • #15
                              Re: Tbird 2012 NBA draft analysis #9: Orlando Johnson

                              Originally posted by Speed View Post
                              Are these archived somewhere, like used be done in the past? Love these profiles!!
                              http://www.pacersdigest.com/showthre...=1#post1460016

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