The 15-win Washington Wizards had a spectacular outing throughout the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The Wizards made surprising and expected decisions throughout draft day, but it is clear general manager Will Dawkins and the front office have an optimistic plan for the franchise going forward.
The Washington Wizards had a Spectacular NBA Draft First Round
Who Did The Wizards Draft in the First Round?
Alexandre Sarr
The Wizards drafted French man Alexandre Sarr with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft. Multiple mock drafts from numerous sports sites projected Washington to pick the 7-foot giant, so that wasn’t much of a surprise. Furthermore, Sarr is the perfect asset to be the cornerstone piece of the franchise going forward.
Sarr stands at 7-foot, 216Ibs and is accredited for his agility on both ends of the floor. Additionally, Sarr can provide the Wizards with solid rebounding help and rim protection. In 2023, the Wizards ranked 29th in the association in the rebounding category (41.0 per game). The 19-year-old’s mere presence alone can help the unit rebound from horrid interior defensive play in 2023, as the unit allowed the most paint points in the league (58.4 per game), respectively.
The Wizards having drafted Sarr was a no-brainer and his projected high upside is anticipated from the franchise.
Carlton Carrington
The Wizards selected former Pitt guard Carlton “Bub” Carrington with the No.14 overall pick. Washington made a deal with the Portland Trailblazers in order to secure the former four-star recruit from Baltimore, MD. Carrington averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 33 games for the Panthers as a freshman.
Carrington possesses good size for a guard (6-foot-4) and showcases solid pull-up shooting. The 19-year-old needs to improve on the defensive end, but his potential is sky-high as he is the third-highest Pitt player to ever be drafted.
Kyshawn George
Washington scooped up former Miami forward Kyshawn George with the No. 24 overall pick Thursday evening. The Swiss-Canadian shooting guard had a promising season for the Hurricanes as a freshman last season. In 2023, George averaged 7.6 points, 3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.9 blocks, respectively. George scored in double figures in 12 out of his 16 games as a starter and had a breakout game against Wake Forest (21 points).
The No. 24 overall pick stands at 6-foot-8 and displays solid passing and ball-handling ability for his size. George will still have to grow into his NBA body since he carries a thin build, but the 20-year-old’s potential is top-level as he develops under head coach Brian Keefe.
Washington Trades F Deni Avdija to the Portland Trailblazers
As mentioned previously, Washington made surprising moves on draft day, which included sending Deni Avdija to the TrailBlazers. Washington traded one of the Wizards’ young core pieces to Portland for the No. 14 pick (Carlton Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick, two second-round picks (’28 and ’30), and veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon.
Initially, the trade can be seen as a head-scratcher since Avdija made a major leap this past season. The former 2020 first-round pick averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while having shot 50.6 percent from the field (all career-highs). Avdija’s confidence was evident on both sides of the floor, especially offensively. Due to his leap, Avdija even earned votes for the Most Improved Player award in his first season as a full-time starter.
Avdija’s contributions will certainly be missed, but the vision for the Wizards screams “develop young talent and secure future” and Avdija had built enough solid stock based on last season in order to be dealt for future high draft picks.
All in all, Avdija ended up being sacrificed for the future of the Washington franchise.
The Last Word
Overall, the Wizards had extravagant first-round picks in the 2024 NBA draft. The Wizards catered to its needs by having addressed its interior depth and especially its guard depth. Moreover, the franchise also prioritized its future with the Avdija trade. Washington’s main facilitators last season were a struggling Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones (current unrestricted free agent), but with the addition of George and Carrington, Washington solidified its future guard play. Since the addition of Brogdon, the former Trailblazer can provide veteran leadership for the crop of young talent on the roster.
Sarr is the biggest grab for the franchise since having drafted John Wall No. 1 overall in 2010. Furthermore, since Washington snagged solid playmakers in the draft, that should help further develop Sarr going forward.
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