Will he stay or will he go? That's what Michigan and Dusty May are wondering when it comes to talented big man Morez Johnson Jr. He's testing the NBA Draft waters and while the door is open for him to return, along with Aday Mara, no one knows yet how things are going to go down.
It's all going to come down to the draft feedback Johnson gets. If he feels like he's a lock to be a mid first-round pick, then he'll likely go pro. If he's expected to fall to the second round, then a return to Ann Arbor would have to be enticing for him.
That's why the latest NBA Mock Draft from ESPN could have some Michigan fans a bit worried. That's because Jeremy Woo has the Michigan standout and national title winner going No. 20 overall to the Spurs. While we'd love for Johnson to come back, there's no way he would if he's a Top-20 pick, right?
Morez Johnson Jr. goes to the Spurs in a new ESPN NBA Mock Draft
"San Antonio is heavy on perimeter talent and should be considering younger frontcourt depth at this spot," Woo wrote in his ESPN piece. "The Spurs have the advantage of being able to effectively pair Victor Wembanyama with nearly any big up front, with his shooting and rim protection enabling a wide range of lineups. Johnson should draw consideration here and would give them some added muscle next to their ascending superstar."
Both Johnson and Mara have until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27 to decide whether or not they're going to play for Michigan next season or stay in the draft and pursue their pro dreams. People are going to be sitting on pins and needles to see what they ultimately decide.
In a perfect world, both come back and help Michigan push for a national title. That'd of course be welcome news, especially with Juke Harris informing Dusty May he's no longer considering the Wolverines. With Johnson in particular, he seems beyond torn on what to do here.
There's a reason this life-changing decision is taking him so long. Only time will tell if he suits up for May next season, but if Woo is spot on and he does make his way to San Antonio midway through the first round, then Michigan fans won't be able to fault him at all for staying put in the draft.
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