3 things Johnny Davis has to do in year 2 to prove he is not a bust

Secondary playmaking

It is rather obvious that Johnny Davis will not be a primary shot-creator for the Washington Wizards in the 2023-24 season. Barring a major unpredictable improvement, he will likely never be a primary playmaker for a team in the NBA. And that is completely fine.

Being a primary ballhandler and the offensive engine is a very high threshold to clear for any NBA prospect. There are only a handful of young players who are entrusted with that role in their second year. Davis will likely not be one of them.

Therefore, he needs to find ways to be effective while being a small part of the offense. This can come through secondary playmaking. For this, he needs to improve his ballhandling, passing, and screening.

Davis has never been a high-assist player in his career. He has usually been utilized as a score-first on-ball creator. This adaptation to an off-ball role is not easy, but it’s also crucial if Davis wants to stick around in the NBA.

If Davis is not good at creating advantages offensively, he could be the weakside playmaker once the advantage has been created. Catching the ball on the move once the defense is already shifting could open up driving lanes and opportunities to score or make plays for Davis. Improving his ball handling and finishing inside the arc is key for that to work.

Another way to do this is through setting screens and being a roll man. Similar to how Bruce Brown, Draymond Green, or Gary Payton II are used by different NBA teams, Davis could use his strength to set good screens and make plays out of a pick-and-roll if he improves his passing.

Johnny Davis and the Wizards coaching staff need to get creative to find him an offensive role that benefits both him and the team. If Davis can develop in some of these areas, he could be a productive role player as soon as next season.