It was pretty clear from the jump that the Washington Wizards landed a premiere scorer in Tre Johnson when they selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in June's 2025 NBA Draft.
The Texas standout had become one of the biggest risers of any player in this draft class following the NBA Combine, where many teams came away with raving reviews about his skillset and upside.
Entering draft week, rumors had Wizards fans focused on the idea that Ace Bailey could be their guy at No. 6 overall if he slipped outside of the top five, especially after reports surfaced that the Rutgers playmaker falling was very realistic.
However, when it came the Wizards turn to select, Bailey was off the board and Johnson was the best player available.
What many may have considered as bad luck at the time may turn out to be good fortune for Washington considering the offensive display that Johnson put together during his time in Las Vegas.
Tre Johnson joins elite Wizards rookie company
Johnson took no time to give Wizards fans hope in Summer League and it's easy to understand why considering he immediately added his name to a list alongside elite company.
The Wizards rookie finished summer league play averaging 19.5 points per game. Johnson's averages alone encourage optimism, but when you look at team's franchise history, only one Washington rookie has ever averaged more points per game in Summer League.
That player? John Wall
Wall's career in D.C. speaks for itself and although it came to a heartbreaking end, there's no denying that the former star guard will forever be remembered as one of the best players to ever represent the city on his chest.
If Johnson can add himself to elite company in summer league, things are looking very promising heading into his rookie season.
There's no denying that general manager Will Dawkins has assembled an abundance of young talent on the roster as the team continues to build towards the future.
Despite that, the team has desperately been hoping to land the franchise player and cornerstone that the team can comfortably build around.
Fortunately, early signs point to Johnson having the potential to be the guy the team has endlessly been searching for.
Regardless if the Wizards compete for a playoff spot this coming season or not, the future in Washington is bright, especially if Johnson proves to be the team's go-to guy.