The LA Clippers ended up picking a little bit early on Draft Day this year.
They sent their 25th overall pick as well as a future second to the New York Knicks in exchange for the Knicks’ 21st overall pick.
Clippers will send No. 25 to New York and a future second, per source. Clippers are targeting Keon Johnson at No. 21. https://t.co/FRWvThyVpM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021
They did indeed take Keon Johnson, and I’m certainly big on this pick. This was a good move, and for three reasons in particular.
No. 3 attribute Keon Johnson will bring that the LA Clippers need: A culture fit
Keon Johnson has gone on the record and said that he models his game after LA Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard.
"I model my game after Kawhi Leonard." - Keon Johnson (@iamkeonjohnson) 🔥
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) July 29, 2021
2021 #NBADraft presented by State Farm: TONIGHT at 8 PM ET on ABC / ESPN pic.twitter.com/9VJquFxx1o
Drafting a guy like Johnson who looks up to our franchise player shows that he wants to be a Clipper, which is going to be huge for Clipper basketball.
We’re trying to establish a culture, and Johnson fits exactly that.
It’s going to be easier to gain chemistry together if even our young players are already bought in before they step into Staples.
Johnson played with toughness at Tennessee, and I think that griminess is going to be huge for the Clips.
Playing a similar position to Kawhi, he’s going to be more willing to learn, and that’s what we want in a first-round pick.
We got somebody who not only helps us from a skills standpoint (keep reading), but we got somebody who’s going to take his new franchise and culture very seriously.