In Bleacher Report's latest 2025 NBA mock draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select Tre Johnson 7th overall. This is very interesting, as many see Johnson as a top-five player in this draft because of his scoring ability. He had a dominant freshman season at Texas, earning SEC Rookie of the Year honors.
He averaged 19.9 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Often, many college guards score well but struggle with efficiency, that wasn't the case for Johnson. He shot just under 43% from the field and an incredible 39.7% from three on 7.8 attempts per game. His amazing shooting ability and efficiency have made scouts view him as a safe prospect.
Lets take a closer look
Like Kon Knueppel, Tre is a three-level scorer who gets his buckets in various ways. He's a threat any time the ball is in his hands. He can break down defenders with his handle before attacking them on a drive or with a step-back jumper. He is also a serious catch-and-shoot threat, as Johnson moves well off-ball and uses screens to his advantage. Johnson has underrated footwork and balance, making it easy for him to get defenders in the air before taking advantage of them.
Confidence is key for Tre, as I don't think anyone in college basketball played with more confidence than he did last season. This confidence helped Johnson instantly become the entire focus of Texas' offense from day one. Johnson thrives most in open-floor situations, where the pace of the game is highest. His ability to score from anywhere makes it hard to defend him in the open court, as he may drive to the hoop or just hit the brakes and pull up from three.
He is nearly unguardable. His ability to start and stop within seconds of each other makes it hard for the defense to keep up. Tre uses his speed to full advantage, knowing when he can take advantage of slower-moving defenders, blowing by them with ease. Johnson's ability to control the pace plays into his high basketball IQ. His feel for the game is like that of a 10-year pro.
Despite being on a rather bad Texas team, Johnson rarely made the wrong read this past season, only averaging 1.8 turnovers per game. He stacks up pretty well compared to other guards playing similar roles when it comes to turnovers. Jeremiah Fears averaged 3.4 turnovers a night, Dylan Harper 2.4, and Kasparas Jakucionis 3.7.
Defensively, Johnson has a solid frame at 6'6 "with a 6'10" wingspan. However, he still needs to improve his patience and consistency on that end of the floor. Tre sometimes gets lazy and complacent defensively, but his frame and work ethic suggest he'll improve.
His fit with the Pelicans
Johnson is a perfect fit for this Pelicans team. His elite shot-making ability is something the Pelicans desperately need, as outside of Trey Murphy, this team really lacks shot creation. Johnson's ability to catch and shoot will help him adjust to a smaller role than he was used to at Texas. Johnson will also get more open looks than he ever did in college because Zion Williamson and Murphy will be drawing most of the attention.
Tre can come in and either start from day one or run the second unit. Johnson will excel in either of these roles because of his ability to be effective with or without the basketball in his hands. With the second unit, he would be playing a similar role as he did in college, functioning as the focal point of the offense and mostly having the ball in his hands. As a starter, he would be in a similar role as Tyler Herro was in his rookie season, mainly operating as a catch-and-shoot guy.
Johnson could be an incredible steal for the Pelicans at 7. He plays similar to some of the league's best two guards. He reminds me a ton of Tyler Herro and Zach LaVine because they can be great on- and off-ball threats, making them incredibly versatile offensively. If Johnson is available at seven, the Pels shouldn't think twice about picking him, as he has serious All-Star potential and can help this team win from day one.