NBA Draft Prospect "Excited" About the Opportunity to Be Traded 37 Times

By Clay Beyersdorfer

NEW YORK — In a move that epitomizes the transient nature of professional basketball careers, draft prospect Tyler Johnson expressed his enthusiasm about the likelihood of being traded multiple times during his NBA career. 

The 6'8" forward from State University is set to break records not for his on-court performance, but for the number of team jerseys he will don throughout his career.

"Honestly, it's a dream come true," Johnson said at last night’s 2024 NBA Draft, his smile barely masking the anxiety of an uncertain future. "Who wouldn't want to experience the culture of nearly every NBA city, sometimes twice a season? I can't wait to form close meaningful relationships with my teammates—briefly—and then do it again somewhere else."

Sources tell End of the Bench that Johnson's journey will potentially begin with the Sacramento Kings, who will immediately trade him to the Charlotte Hornets for a protected second-round pick and a future consideration. 

The Hornets, in turn, plan to trade him to the Detroit Pistons, who have big plans to use him as a bargaining chip in a complex three-team trade with the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets, who are reportedly eyeing superstar Kevin Durant.

"Tyler's got a great head on his shoulders," said Johnson's agent, Jason Smigadoon, who has been working “overtime” drawing up trade clauses and buyout scenarios. "He's mentally prepared to be the guy who's always packed and ready to move at a moment's notice. It's a skill that not many rookies have these days."

Notably, Johnson's expected 37 trades might even surpass the recent record set by Dennis Smith Jr., who has already graced the rosters of the Mavericks, Knicks, Pistons, Trail Blazers, and Hornets since being drafted in 2017.

Johnson's closest friends in the draft class, including Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, have offered their support, although they acknowledge that Johnson's path is uniquely challenging. 

"It's tough to be the guy who makes everyone's G League team stronger for a week," said Sheppard. "But if anyone can handle it, it's Tyler."

As the 2024 NBA Draft continues with tonight’s second round, fans and analysts alike are eagerly tracking Johnson's trades on social media, with #WhereInTheWorldIsTylerJohnson trending worldwide.

At the end of the day, Johnson remains optimistic. 

"No matter where I end up—or how many times I end up there—I know I’ll always have a place in the NBA," he said, holding up a jersey that was already outdated by the time he finished his sentence. "This won’t impact the other close relationships in my life whatsoever.”

End of the Bench will have more on this story after we pack our bags.

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