Suns select UNC’s Cam Johnson No. 11 in 2019 NBA Draft
Jun 20, 2019, 5:50 PM | Updated: 11:30 pm
FILE - In this March 29, 2019, file photo, North Carolina's Cameron Johnson (13) heads to the basket past Auburn's Chuma Okeke (5) during the first half of a men's NCAA tournament college basketball Midwest Regional semifinal game, in Kansas City, Mo. Johnson is a first-round prospect in Thursday's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
After reportedly trading down from the No. 6 pick, the Phoenix Suns have selected forward Cam Johnson out of the University of North Carolina with the No. 11 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The pick belongs to Minnesota, but upon the completion of the reported trade that involved the No. 6 pick for No. 11 and forward Dario Saric, it is expected to go to Phoenix.
The Suns acknowledged later Thursday that the team was in discussions to make trades, but wouldn’t comment further, adding that trade discussions would likely be complete after the moratorium ends on July 6.
After playing at Pitt from 2014-17, Johnson transferred to UNC for his final two years of college basketball. This past season was the best of his career, as he averaged 16.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29.9 minutes per game.
His shooting splits were extremely strong, shooting 55.6% from 2-point range and 45.7% from 3.
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According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Johnson showed that shooting prowess and impressed teams in workouts. Even with that, Charania called the pick “stunning.”
With Johnson’s shooting paired with guard Devin Booker in mind, the Suns drafted him with the 11th pick.
The reported trade with the Timberwolves now apparently complete, Phoenix received forwards in Johnson and Dario Saric in exchange for the No. 6 pick, used on Jarrett Culver.
This is also the second time the Suns have traded a first-round pick in the last two years. Last season, they traded out of the No. 16 spot to get Bridges from the Philadelphia 76ers.
As James Jones has completed his first two trades since becoming permanent general manager of the team, his vision for the group is beginning to come into focus.
