With the NBA lottery just under a week away, a few teams will be sweating until they hear their team’s name called. One of those teams is the Washington Wizards. The 2025 NBA draft holds one name above anyone else: Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. He’s been labeled a future generational talent and a franchise-altering cornerstone to anyone lucky enough to land that first pick. So, what’s the Wizards’ lottery outlook? Tankathon.com provides the lottery percentages for every team with a shot at the number one pick. Let’s take an inside look at the Wizards’ lottery odds.
Breaking Down Wizards Lottery Odds
The Wizards have some of the best lottery odds in the entire league. Finishing in the bottom three, along with the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets, presents the three with even odds to land the number one overall pick.
Pick Number One: 14% Chance
This would be the first time since the 2010 NBA draft that the Wizards would select first. In 2010, they chose franchise all-time great point guard John Wall. Flagg is destined to go number one, and the Wizards would love to have him in the nation’s capital. Recent history favors the Wizards to get the number one overall pick. Since the 2020 NBA draft, three teams with the second-best odds have received the number one pick. While that’s not a telltale sign that the Wizards are destined for Flagg, it’s certainly a good starting point.
Pick Number Two: 13.4% Chance
This would be the second straight year the Wizards would have the number two overall selection. While Alex Sarr didn’t have a remarkable start to his NBA campaign, he wasn’t destined to be the franchise-altering pick, but to be paired with them to make an elite duo in the years to come. Some fail to realize that Flagg is not the only generational talent in this draft, and while Flagg is the only one to have his selection a lock, the second overall pick gives any team flexibility in who they want to select. The two names most likely to get called here are Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe.
Pick Number Three: 12.7% Chance
The last selection for the Wizards at the third overall spot came in 2013, NBA journeyman Otto Porter. With the third selection the year prior, it was Bradley Beal. While the Wizards don’t want to fall back to three, the pick still provides a player with NBA-ready talent and even more potential to grow. If Harper gets taken at two, expect Edgecombe, and vice versa.
Pick Number Four: 12% Chance
The last Wizards selection at the fourth pick was Rasheed Wallace in 1995. With Flagg, Edgecombe, and Harper gone, the next best would be either Tre Johnson or Ace Bailey. A trade could also happen, however, it’s unlikely given these two guys’ talent. Both players would add nice depth to the guard positions and be given a good chance at fighting for a starting spot. Bailey adds a little more flexibility than Johnson. Bailey is a 6-foot-10 forward with guard-like skills and a knack for shooting. This pick is a little more up in the air, but these two guys are the most likely candidates.
Pick Number Five: 27.8% Chance
The Wizards’ last selection at pick five was Devin Harris in the 2004 NBA draft, who was traded to Dallas on draft night. Nevertheless, this pick could provide some solid flexibility. Depending on some selections, the Wizards could feel they want to drop down in exchange for a pick and a younger piece. While a trade is still unlikely, some of the players around these picks are solid, but could be deemed potential-heavy or are not considered a roster need, and therefore not worth the high contract they would be getting. Since the 2020 draft, three picks inside the top 10 have been traded after selection. While fourth would still be high, swapping it could gain you a future piece. Names around this pick would be either Johnson or Bailey, Khaman Maluach, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen.
Pick Number Six: 20% Chance
The 2011 NBA draft saw the Wizards take Jan Vesely at the sixth pick, which unfortunately didn’t pan out. At sixth this season, your options really open up. A trade could still be unlikely, but this is a prime position to grab a big man to pair with Sarr. Queen and Maluach are both solid additions, but they both have their strengths. Queen is more offensively gifted, but taking Maluach could boost the defense nicely. Maluach averaged 1.3 blocks a game for Duke last season, and Washington could hold two of the best young defensive bigs in the league. Queen, on the other hand, would provide a nice offensive threat in the mid-to-low post. He shot 52.6% from the field for Maryland, which would allow Sarr to step out more frequently and further develop his behind-the-arc game.
The Last Word on Wizards Lottery Odds
With the NBA Combine coming up, the Wizards still have plenty of time to decide who they would take if they don’t secure that number one pick. Picks two, three, and four could still provide you with a generational talent. Pick five could be swapped for six while still being able to grab your big man. This draft will be one to remember, and it’s crucial for the Wizards to get it right headed into the future.
Featured image: © David Banks-Imagn Images
The post Breaking Down Wizards Lottery Odds appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.