Raptors Player Profile: Amir Johnson

Raptors Player Profile: Amir Johnson

Name: Amir Jalla Johnson

Birthplace: May 1, 1987

Height: 6’11

Weight: 225lbs.

School: Westchester High School

NBA Experience: 4 Years

Previously Played For: Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks

How He got Here: Amir Johnson was traded along with Sonny Weems to the Toronto Raptors for Roko Ukic and the rights to Carlos Delfino.

Season Outlook: Johnson is third on the depth chart for both the power forward and center positions.

Assessments: Johnson has never really had an opportunity to showcase his plethora of talents in Detroit or Milwaukee last year. While Johnson’s offensive game doesn’t seem to venture outside of the dunking variety. His long arms and leaping ability give him the opportunity to be a disrupting force on the defensive end.

According to ESPN’s John Hollinger, Johnson is a fountain of untapped potential. A couple of years ago Johnson was among the league leaders in rebound rate, and blocks per minute. The knock on Johnson has always been game experience – he’s always been limited to garbage minutes and that is just not acceptable in the development of a player that has been likened to Andris Biedrins. Some of Johnson’s weaknesses include his propensity for turnovers and lack of a shot to keep defenses honest. However in limited action Johnson has been extremely productive, and Raptors fans can look forward to several explosive and some extremely questionable moments from Johnson this year.

Johnson gets a clean slate in his arrival in Toronto and because he is in a contract year, Toronto fans can look forward to see the best that Johnson has to offer…if he shows that he can handle the responsibilities of a being a rotation regular.

Overall: The acquisition of Amir Johnson is a good (potentially great one) due to his raw talent and youthful age. Perhaps he wont be a “special player” as former coach Larry Brown once said but in Toronto where the prospects are the brightest they have been in several years Johnson should endear himself to becoming a part of the Raptors bright future.

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