Wizards' AJ Johnson reacts to trade from Bucks: 'I was kind of shocked'
Wizards' AJ Johnson reacts to trade from Bucks: 'I was kind of shocked'
AJ Johnson said over the weekend that he was a bit shocked after learning the Milwaukee Bucks sent him to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday ahead of the trade deadline.
Johnson was traded to the Wizards along with Khris Middleton and a 2028 pick swap for Kyle Kuzma and a second-round pick. Washington also acquired the draft rights to Mathias Lessort from the New York Knicks and dealt Patrick Baldwin Jr. to the San Antonio Spurs in the four-team trade.
The Wizards got a 13-year veteran in Middleton to provide scoring on the court and more leadership in the locker room, along with a 20-year-old up-and-comer in Johnson.
"I was kind of shocked, but I didn't really have too much of a crazy reaction," Johnson said Saturday after debuting with the Wizards against the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I was just a little shocked."
Johnson averaged 2.9 points, one rebound and one assist on 42.1% shooting from the field in nine appearances with the Bucks. He has spent the majority of the season in the G League, averaging 13.4 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 25 games with the Wisconsin Herd.
The 23rd pick played last season with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL as part of the "Next Stars" program, averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 26 appearances. He was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class of Southern California Academy before making the jump to Australia.
Johnson was a key piece of the trade for the Wizards as a two-way guard with potential on the court. They had him on their radar during the predraft process and will now have the chance to take a closer look at him this season and beyond.
"It is a great feeling knowing that I'm somewhere that wants me," Johnson said. "It is definitely a great feeling being somewhere I'm wanted and looked at as valuable, so I just want to work super hard and become everything I want to become in this game."
Johnson joins a roster with three other first-round picks from last year: Alexandre Sarr (No. 2 pick), Bub Carrington (No. 14 pick) and Kyshawn George (No. 24 pick). The team also boasts a core of Jordan Poole, Bilal Coulibaly, Malcolm Brogdon, Corey Kispert and Saddiq Bey, among others.
The Wizards are the first team since the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2021-22 season to have three separate rookies average at least 25 minutes per game. Sarr, Carrington and George have emerged as key players for the team this year and have contributed at a high level.
The organization had a productive trade deadline by adding a young player and additional draft capital. Johnson is excited to get work and grow with his fellow rookies and the rest of the team.
"I think it is a great opportunity because we're all still trying to find ourselves in this game," Johnson said. "So we can help each other and continue to grow together and push each other. I'm really excited."
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