Dakari Johnson Summer League analysis

Dakari Johnson’s play in the summer league may have proved that he is ready for the move up to the Thunder roster.

2017 Oklahoma City Summer League stats: 18.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 57% field goal percentage

Summer League overview

Dakari Johnson made his voice heard in this year’s Orlando Summer League. He showed that he can be a force inside and his offensive versatility is continuing to grow each season. Johnson opened Summer League play with a double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds) in a win against the Pistons.

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He followed that with his Summer League high 21 points in a win against the Knicks. It seemed like he was showing every part of his arsenal in each appearance. Johnson had an efficient 18 points in a loss against the Mavericks. He concluded his stint with 15 points in a loss against the Pacers. Whether it was his ability to bring the ball up the court or new post moves on the block, Johnson showed that he may be ready for the call-up to the Thunder this season.

Growth

Johnson has improved his game and his body since joining the Thunder organization in 2015. He was the 48th pick in the 2015 draft from the University of Kentucky. At 7’0″ and 265 pounds, Johnson immediately proved that he could be a force in the paint.

In this recent stints with the Blue and for the Thunder summer league team, Johnson has improved his footwork and added skill that has allowed him to expand his game outside of the paint. Johnson has also shed some weight and it has shown in the way he runs the floor. Defensively Johnson showed that he understands the right spots to be on pick-and-rolls and to be a big body that can change shots in the paint.

Potential Role

The Thunder could use Dakari Johnson in a similar role to how they use Enes Kanter. Johnson’s offensive ability and size would give the Thunder the opportunity to give him the ball inside and let him work. Johnson also has developed a mid-range set shot and has shown the ability to put the ball on the floor to make plays off the dribble.

However, with the addition of Patrick Patterson and with Enes Kanter currently still on the roster, it would be hard for Johnson to find minutes right away. If Kanter were to get traded away for extra wing/guard play, then that would open the door for Johnson to potentially play a big role instantly.