The Washington Wizards hit rock bottom last season. Any hope of returning to relevance will depend on making the right picks, including the No. 2 selection, when the NBA draft kicks off on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately for the woebegone Wizards, this year’s underwhelming group of prospects lacks the star power of recent drafts. No generational prospects are waiting to lead a struggling franchise into a new era.
Without a Victor Wembanyama or Zion Williamson sitting atop draft boards, it’s unclear who will be available when the Wizards are on the clock.
Most analysts predict that a pair of Frenchmen — center Alexandre Sarr and forward Zaccharie Risacher — will be the first players off the board. But it’s unclear who the Atlanta Hawks will take with the top pick and who will be left for the Wizards.
“For us, we’re going to find the best long-term fit, the best player that will have a chance to be the best pro,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said after last month’s draft lottery. “We’re able to grow, and this is an opportunity to add another young piece who will continue to chip away at our player development.”
Analysts have long said that this year’s pool of players is weak, though Dawkins phrased it more politely. He believes that the right prospect could become an All-Star in the future.
“There’s probably not the same level of instant gratification that you can see in year one with some of these rookies,” he said. “But if you really dive down and have some patience and have a forward-thinking outlook, these players are going to be pretty good players in the NBA a few years from now.”
Most mock drafts predict that the Wizards select Sarr or Risacher with the No. 2 pick — whichever player the Hawks pass on.
Sarr was once considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick, but the 19-year-old has not visited Atlanta during the predraft process. He did work out for Dawkins and the Wizards, according to multiple reports.
The 7-footer played professionally in Australia last season with the Perth Wildcats, impressing scouts with his size and defensive versatility.
If the Hawks defy expectations and select Sarr with the top pick, the Wizards will likely turn their attention to his countryman, Risacher.
The 6-foot-9-inch teenager is well-suited for the modern NBA. He has the size to guard any position on the floor while possessing the offensive skillset to shoot from the wings or drive to the rim.
“He’s a great shooter, can put the ball in the basket at any time: in the paint, the three-pointers,” said Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, who played against Risacher in Europe. “He’s a great shot-maker … a really good player.”
Whomever the Wizards select will be expected to serve as a foundational piece for a franchise in flux.
The Wizards were bad last season —- historically bad. The team set a franchise record with 67 losses. But Dawkins says things will be tough before they get better.
“We’re in the bottom phase of building that foundation, I think [we] put some of those blocks together this year,” Dawkins said as he introduced Brian Keefe as the team’s coach earlier this month. “The bottom takes some time.”
If the Wizards are building a foundation now, then last year was the teardown. The front office shifted its focus to the future by trading away All-Stars Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. The building process started with last year’s draft, as Dawkins and company traded for Coulibaly, the No. 8 pick.
Coulibaly, though unpolished, possessed great size and defensive instincts — two qualities that Dawkins values.
But the second-year general manager said he knows better than to act as the sole arbiter for personnel decisions.
“You’re probably wrong, that’s what I’ve learned,” Dawkins told reporters last month. “And then you gotta work with a lot of good people to make sure you make the most informed decision possible.”
Reports from the Ringer and the Athletic noted that the Wizards are listening to trade offers in the lead-up to the draft. The Wizards, who also hold picks 26 and 52, could acquire a third first-round selection as they look to stock up on young talent.
“We’ll do what’s best for the Wizards at the end of the day,” Dawkins said.
The two-day NBA draft begins at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in New York City. The second round will start at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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