Caleb Yum, Austin American-Statesman
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The Washington Wizards likely entered the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday slightly disappointed, having been positioned for a high draft pick yet ultimately falling to the sixth slot. They still landed Texas guard Tre Johnson, with their selection, but how does he fit with the pieces they already have?
One thing is clear about Johnson’s game: He can shoot. The North Texas native scored 19.9 points per game in college and went 39.7% from 3-point range with an effective field goal percentage of 51.1%. Though his usage rate at Texas was 29.3%, in the 97th percentile according to CBB Analytics, he likely won’t be handling the ball much as a rookie.
But Johnson’s off-ball numbers are promising, as he shot 40.8% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. He was a scintillating 54.8% when coming off a screen, albeit on a 31-attempt sample size, according to NBA Utah Jazz writer Eric Spyropoulos. The Wizards desperately need Johnson’s shooting skill; their 3-point percentage of 33.5% this past season ranked second-to-last in the NBA.
“I think, pound-for-pound, (he’s) if not the best shooter, then one of the best shooters in the draft,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said after Round 1.
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Wizards 2025-26 roster: How Tre Johnson fits
The Wizards finished the past regular season with an 18-64 record, the second-worst in the NBA. A day before Johnson’s selection, the front office shuffled around some players in preparation for their new rookie.
Washington traded guard Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 overall pick Tuesday to the New Orleans Pelicans for veterans C.J. McCollum and Kelly Olynyk. Poole attempted the most shots for Washington in the 2024-25 season and plays the same position as Johnson. His absence should allow the former Longhorn more opportunities on offense.
McCollum, a 14-year veteran, arrives having averaged 21.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in 2024. He’ll likely be tasked with leading the offense.
As a driver and decision maker, Johnson might underwhelm as a rookie. He shot 44.9% on 2-pointers and only 21% of his points came in the paint, in the 18th percentile among all NCAA players, according to CBB Analytics. At 19 years old, Johnson will be the youngest member of a roster with one other teenager and three 20-year-olds.
The Wizards also roster veteran guards Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton in addition to the recently acquired McCollum. Their presence gives Johnson less pressure to handle the ball and mentors with plenty of experience (though the Wizards could try to trade one of them for more assets).
Washington’s top draft pick last year, Alex Sarr, is a 7-foot center who was drafted No. 2 overall in 2024 primarily for his defensive talent. He averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season with an effective field goal percentage of 45.7%. Bub Carrington, the Wizards’ other 2024 draftee, had a promising debut and will likely share lead guard duties with McCollum.
What Tre Johnson must improve on in NBA
The swing variables in Johnson’s game are his paint efficiency and his defense. Becoming a bigger threat inside the arc could open up playmaking opportunities for him and increase the pressure he puts on the defense. Even if he’s never a great finisher at the rim, drawing more fouls will be critical if Johnson wants to ascend to the upper echelon of scorers.
Johnson has recognized this, and has talked about wanting to increase his free-throw rate in the NBA. He attempted free throws just 26.5% of the time in college, but shot 87.1% when he did make it to the charity stripe.
Defensively, the Athletic’s Sam Vecenie describes Johnson as “competitive” but “not all that disruptive.”
“There’s a lot to like with Tre. But there are some areas he’s got to grow in, just like every other 19-year-old player, and we’d rather address it on the front end, see if he can improve upon it, see what his answers are,” Dawkins said.
Johnson will need to improve, but if Sarr can continue to develop defensively, he should be able to mitigate some of the limitations Washington’s top 2025 pick may have. Wizards’ guard/forward Bilal Coulibaly is also a long, mobile defender in his own right who will take on the tougher defensive assignments.
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