Draft

This upcoming Tuesday is the NBA draft. This year’s crop has a group of players that has the potential to make an immediate impact on next season’s squads.

At the top of this years hit parade are my Washington Wizards, who admittedly did not give their best effort to win games these past few seasons as a franchise.

In other words, they tanked.

Well, this year they have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. They got what they wanted: this year’s #1 pick.

In reviewing the Wiz recent 1^st round picks, they have been not that bad. Last year’s first rounder Tre Johnson (#6) from Texas played 60 games, averaged 12 points per game while shooting just under the league 3-pt percentage of 36% (35.8%). 2024 pick Will Riley (Illinois) averaged double digits this past season as well, shooting 44% from the field overall in 74 games this year. The previous picks before them, big man Alex Sarr (averaging 14pts and 7 rebounds in his 115 game Wizards career) and Baltimore native Bub Carrington both made All-Rookie teams.

Now we come to this year’s pick…our first #1 pick since John Wall in the 2010 draft. Full transparency, I did not have a problem with that pick.

The consensus selection is Brigham Young player A.J. Dybantsa, who was the leading D-1 player in scoring, shooting 51% from the field. Also on the short list is Kansas guard Darryn Peterson who averaged 20 a game in (only) 24 games this past year for the Jayhawks. As of this post, ESPN just moved Peterson past A.J. on their big board. Something else to note: the only team that Peterson worked out for was Washington.

Now for my choice.

First, I would trade (that’s right, I said it trade) the pick to Utah, who has the #2 pick. He wants to go to Utah (see Brigham Young) and Utah wants him. And I think that Utah is willing to pay big for him. Aside from their #2 pick, I would want at least one player (someone like maybe Ace Bailey) or for me Brice Sensabaugh who is a 38% career 3pt shooter who averaged just under 15 a game this past season. And next year’s picks (Utah has only the one pick in this year’s draft) to continue the rebuild.

My selection is 6’ 10” big man Caleb Wilson from North Carolina. While I can blog for myself, Here’s ESPN’s take: Athletic frontcourt players who compete the way Wilson does are always in high demand. He's exceptionally quick off the floor and should contribute in several areas other than scoring. The midrange touch and passing instincts he has shown point to his underlying talent. Although injuries ended his season early, his transition to college was impressively smooth. He has excellent potential to tap into long-term, with his competitiveness inspiring confidence that he'll reach it.

In the 24 games that he played this past season(limited by breaking both of his hands), he averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 boards for the season.

And to be clear, if Utah doesn’t want to deal, I still want him.

This upcoming pick for the Wizards will be franchise changing. One way or another.