The Washington Wizards went into the 2025 NBA Draft with three picks. While one of their original picks was traded pre-draft, they still acquired three prospects to help complete the rebuilding roster. Tre Johnson was taken sixth, and Will Riley was selected 21st after the Walter Clayton Jr trade with the Utah Jazz. However, with their mid-second-round pick, the Wizards selected Jamir Watkins, a guard from Florida State.
Wizards Intriguing Second-Round Pick Fills Clear Need
What makes Watkins such an interesting pick for the Wizards is that he, along with Johnson, is a high-scoring guard. Watkins, a four-year college player, spent time with both Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Florida State University (FSU). He comes into the NBA after a solid senior year at FSU, averaging 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. While Johnson will no doubt see the floor immediately, the Wizards may take a different approach with Watkins.
Watkins Skill Set
Watkins will most likely come in off the bench or deep rotation to provide scoring and a guard rebounding presence. Which would be almost the complete opposite of Johnson and Bub Carrington. Johnson will be one of the primary scorers and playmakers in the rotation. Carrington will almost certainly have to turn into a more pass-first point guard to help dictate the game for the Wizards.
While Watkins isn’t the talent that Johnson is, he should develop along nicely with Riley, who will also be coming off the bench to provide scoring. All three players will need to work on consistency; however, their games should mesh well with the unit already there. What separates Watkins from Johnson is their defensive abilities. Johnson is seen as a liability on that end of the floor; however, Watkins is solid, with the capability to grow into an elite defensive guard.
Watkins averaged 1.2 steals last season for the Seminoles, with a defensive rating of 103.5. His defensive win share is also slightly positive, at 1.6 last season. Compared to Johnson, at a 109.9 defensive rating with a defensive win share slightly lower at 1.1, Watkins is more capable on that end of the floor. Watkins, at 6-foot-7, will be seen as a player with the potential to guard both front-court positions. Additionally, he should also be able to switch onto taller offensive threats at the forward slots.
Watkins won’t be the best defender on the team. However, when Bilal Coulibaly goes out, Kyshawn George and Watkins will make an impact on that side of the ball.
Summer League Impact
With the draft over, the Summer League will provide everyone with their first looks at the rookie class. For Watkins, he may be coming off the bench, but he will be a part of one of the better squads the summer will offer. This should give him ample opportunities to show head coach Brian Keefe and general manager Will Dawkins that he deserves a roster spot heading into the preseason.
If he doesn’t perform well, it still won’t be the end of his career. Washington would almost certainly give him a year or two to build his game in the G League. While the G League may not be the NBA, it has helped grow and mold players into solid rotational pieces on NBA rosters.
The Last Word
Watkins has the potential to become a solid two-way player. Along with Johnson and Riley, Watkins will represent the Wizards’ next phase of the rebuild, who are key rotational pieces that will provide strong impacts on either end of the floor. If Watkins can develop his game along with the rising stars in Washington, he has a real chance to be there for the foreseeable future.
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