AJ Johnson

The No. 23 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Johnson averaged 7.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.1 blocks per game, shooting 38.5 percent from the field across 22.0 minutes in 29 games during his rookie 2024-25 season. Seven of those games were with the Bucks, but he was used sparingly before his trade to Washington. In his final 10 games, his production increased to 10.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, demonstrating growth and a stronger rhythm as the season drew to a close. Acquired in a February four-team trade that also brought in Khris Middleton, Johnson now joins a young rebuild loaded with opportunity. This offseason, Washington added CJ McCollum to stabilize the locker room and mentor the youth, and traded for Cam Whitmore to bolster the offensive potential alongside rookie Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington as part of a promising under-23 nucleus. With those moves, things are a bit crowded in the backcourt, but if he continues building at his end-of-season pace, Johnson could emerge as a versatile scoring and playmaking option off the bench. While his fantasy appeal will be limited to begin the season, Johnson is someone who could see his value rise as the season progresses once the Wizards start to dial back their veterans. Read Past Outlooks