The Washington Wizards have the second-best lottery odds to land the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. That puts them in a prime position to draft a franchise-altering player in Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper. With Flagg being the destined number one overall pick and the Wizards front office being “big fans” of Harper, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, it’s clear to see who they would take at the one and two spots. With them off the board, V.J. Edgecombe would be the next in line at the third pick. However, luck has never always been on Washington’s side. If the Wizards fall out of the top three, there are some other draft options they can consider.
3 Washington Wizards Draft Options If They Fall From Top 3
Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey would be the next best player in the draft, and the third pick is a toss-up between him and Edgecombe. At six-foot-10 with guard-like handles, he has position-less written all over him, and would fit nicely as both a guard and forward.
Offensively, his ability to finish at the rim and great pull-up midrange game led to an impressive 51.1% shooting percentage from inside the arc. Bailey can also shoot the three-ball, with a clip of 34.6% from outside. He ended the season averaging 17.6 points. While Rutgers didn’t make the tourney, they would’ve been a tough matchup.
Defensively, Bailey averaged one steal, which was good enough for third-most on the roster. He also averaged 1.3 blocks, tying him for 11th in the Big Ten. He also tallied 7.2 rebounds, with 5.1 of those coming on the defensive end.
Not only would Bailey be able to step into the offense and contribute at a decent rate in Washington, but he would also anchor the 28th defensive-rated team in the NBA. He would pair nicely at the two guard with Jordan Poole while also being able to play both forward positions.
Derik Queen
Derik Queen should be considered the best big man in the draft this season. While Queen is also six-foot-10, he doesn’t have the guard abilities that Bailey has. However, he has a beautifully strong offensive game that will continue to grow. Additionally, his defensive skills could develop rapidly alongside Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly.
Queen averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds and tallied seven double-doubles. His offensive skill set is a great pair with Sarr. His low volume of three-point attempts would allow Sarr to step out behind the line while Queen does his damage inside. Queen shot 55.8% on two-point shots, showcasing his ability to both finish at the rim and hit the mid-range at decent rates.
While scouts say his defensive game holds him back, it’s worth taking a closer look at. He averaged 1.1 steals, which is solid for a big man operating primarily in the lower areas of the court. He also tied for 15th in blocks in the Big 10 at 1.1 per game. For the deeper analytics, he finished with the highest defensive win-share in the conference. So, while there are some question marks around his defensive ability, he has the numbers to support that he’ll grow on that side of the ball.
Does Queen have the potential to alter the franchise the way some think Bailey could? No. However, he does possess the ability to be Sarr’s pairing and a potential nice third option for when they do find that transcendent star.
Tre Johnson
Tre Johnson possesses great offensive ability, and the Wizards could certainly use a few more scorers on the court. At six-foot-six, Johnson would fit perfectly at the two guard slot. With Poole improving his playmaking ability last season, Johnson would have plenty of looks.
Averaging 19.9 points, Johnson put himself atop the SEC in scoring. Playing a conference-high of 34.7 minutes a game, he shot 42.7% from the field and 39.7% from three. While not the most efficient, Johnson was the only player to average over 13 points for the Texas Longhorns. If the Wizards take Johnson, his playmaking ability would need to improve slightly, but it would be manageable. With 2.7 assists per game, the team would need to lean on Poole and Bub Carrington to do more playmaking.
On defense, Johnson averaged just under a steal a game (0.9) and 0.3 blocks. These numbers would be expected to be a little higher with over 34 minutes of playing time. However, he had to be the main scorer. With all the energy put into the offensive end of the floor, it could be considered an excuse for the lack of defense.
For Washington, they gain all offense, with the possibility of instilling good defensive habits and mentality in Johnson. The hope would be that he can become more efficient while building better defensive intangibles over time. With the potential of being an elite scorer, Washington could grab him if they felt it was worth the risk.
The Last Word
While the top three picks in the draft look almost locked, Bailey, Queen, and Johnson all would be solid if the Wizards don’t land Flagg, Harper, or Edgecombe. While Queen and Johnson need to improve on defense, Bailey is an NBA-ready prospect on both sides of the ball. Look for these three players to make decent impacts on any team that takes them, especially if they land in the nation’s capital.
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