Is there any hope for Johnny Davis?
The Washington Wizards drafted Davis with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. It was a reach and a risky pick as Davis was considered a low-upside prospect. So far, the doubters have been proven right.
The 21-year-old shooting guard has failed to produce at an NBA level. He spent most of his rookie season in G League with the Capital City Go-Go where he wasn’t too impressive either. He had a decent stretch in the last few weeks of the season but these flashes have been few and far between. He looked better in the Summer League but not dramatically different from his rookie campaign.
The Wisconsin product needs to improve in a variety of areas. He needs to shoot better from the outside and be more assertive offensively. He might never be a high-level scorer due to his athleticism and shooting limitations, but an improvement in passing and playmaking will help unlock his offensive game. The Wizards fans need to see incremental development on these fronts to feel better about the future of the franchise.
Another way Davis can improve his stock is on the defensive end. He is further along on that end of the floor, but if his offensive game is still not ready, he needs to be even better. His future may be as a defensive stopper in the league.
It’s not a good idea to give up on any prospect in their second season, but if a significant improvement doesn’t come on either end, it will be difficult for Wizards fans to maintain their faith in Davis. Whether Davis can be at least a rotation-level player will be a big factor in how hopeful the Wizards fans can be going forward.