Tre Johnson

i think it goes to show the confidence that will dawkins and this organization has in finding a true point guard they think that young can be that guy a guy that they have really haven't had here his caliber since john wall i mean talk about the playmaking ability from young one of the most elite playmakers to ever play the game of basketball so you needed to lock that point guard position up because just think about it ben after russell westbrook it really was point guard purgatory here in dc it's a crucial position So that's why I understand paying the guy that much money.

And I think it will pay off when you have, when you're heading into year three of Alex R, Keyshawn George, year two of Will Riley and Trey Johnson.

A lot of these guys will benefit from playing alongside Trey Young.

So I think it was necessary.

Defensively, we'll see where he's at.

But ultimately, like, even aside from AJ, Trae Johnson, last season as a rookie, one of the better mid-range shooters in basketball.

If he can extend his range to three, it changes what he looks like.

Keyshawn George, beginning of last season, he was a 25 and five guy, you know, basically every other night.

Keyshawn George was missing time.

Trae Johnson was barely playing.

It was a tough watch.

And I think the insertion of Trae Young, who was one of the best floor generals of the past five to seven years, will certainly help.

But again, when it comes to the offense, just from what Trae Young can open up, I mean, just look at Bilal Koulibaly.

He shot, I think, 42% on 29 attempts from three in the five games he played next to Trae Young.

Trae Johnson got a lot more open looks playing next to Trae Young.

It's a lot of these guys that, were relied upon to play on ball, even a Keyshawn George that were like, you know, maybe not best suited for that role, but in terms of catch and shoot Keyshawn George, I think was like 42, 43% in catch and shoot opportunities last year.

And Tre Mann, a guy who they traded for, is he gonna be part of the backup point guard committee? But one thing's for sure, this bench unit, Ben, when you look at it, I'm really confident in them.

You have Tre Johnson, I mean, if he doesn't start, if Keeshond starts with the two, Tre Johnson below Coulibaly off the bench.

It's, it's very deep.

Justin Champagnie, the list goes on.

Yeah.

I would say Trae Johnson for me pretty clearly four.

And then I would have Will Riley pretty clearly five, honestly.

The reason I have Trae ahead is that Trae is, like, the shooter that they really need around that, you know, core group of guys that we mentioned in the top three.

Or maybe even sixth.

I mean, there's a lot of, like Trae Johnson still has, we need to see what happens with him too.

Um, so there's a lot, weirdly to say, there's a lot of cooks in the kitchen there, and I think you're gonna see a couple of the young guys, like, rise to the top.

You've already seen Keyshawn George do that.

I don't anticipate Khris Middleton playing more than, like, 10 to 15 minutes a game, but I'm glad he's in the mix.

And I think when you talk about tho- that mixture of the vets with all of these young guys, Alex Star, AJ Dinwiddie, Trae Johnson, KeSean George, Will Riley, Bob Garrington.

I'm not giving up on-

Mm

... be open to playing off ball like he did in college at Oklahoma, like he started to do next to Dejounte Murray in Atlanta? But this is where it's gonna really have to happen, 'cause you gotta get AJ Dinwiddie pick and roll reps.

You have to get him iso opportunities.

Trae Johnson can't just be a guy hitting spot-on three pointers.

You gotta get-