NEWSLETTER
What Will The Washington Wizards Do With The 2nd Pick? – The NBA is changing this year’s draft format for the 2024 season. The 78th annual draft will be held over two nights, a departure from the single-night format that has been the standard since the late 1980s. The first round will take place tonight at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, with the second round following on Thursday night at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.
During the second round, the time between picks will be extended from two minutes to four. Additionally, the draft will consist of 58 picks instead of the usual 60 due to tampering penalties imposed on the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns over the past two years.
2024 NBA Mock Draft: Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards had a historically dismal season, with minimal improvement under coaches Wes Unseld Jr. and Brian Keefe. Together, they only managed to win 15 games out of 81.
The team’s goal was to secure a high draft pick, but the summer acquisition of Jordan Poole didn’t go as planned. The 6’4″ guard did have decent averages in points (17.4) and assists (4.4), but his shooting percentage was only 41.3%, and he had defensive weaknesses that significantly lowered his trade value. Overall, it was not the “breakout season” Washington had hoped for.
A standout player in Washington, D.C., is Kyle Kuzma, who has been performing exceptionally well, with an average of 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Unlike Poole, Kuzma is likely to attract significant trade interest and could fetch a high value for the Wizards. This is important, especially considering the underwhelming return from the Bradley Beal trade and Poole’s reduced trade value. There’s some optimism with rookie Bilal Coulibaly showing potential and Deni Avdija establishing himself as a forward capable of starting.
To build a passionate fan base, it’s important to take a multifaceted approach. While player recruitment will always be important, getting the best deal for Kuzma this summer is equally crucial. Ideally, this trade would include young players and valuable draft picks, giving us more chances to bring in top talent.
The key question is whether the Wizards will capitalize on Kuzma’s value. Their decision to keep Tyus Jones’ expiring contract at the trade deadline has raised some concerns. Wizards fans hope the front office, led by Michael Winger, will prioritize acquiring assets during the offseason. Given the team’s current situation, this expectation seems quite reasonable.
What Will The Washington Wizards Do With The 2nd Pick?
Alex Sarr – Perth Wildcats
Position: PF/C
Size: 7’1″, 217 lbs
Age/Year: 19
Nationality: French
Pro Comparison (per The Ringer): Jaren Jackson Jr. & Jonathan Isaac
Sarr defies traditional positional norms. He possesses an exceptional blend of size, finesse, and explosiveness, reminiscent of a skyscraper enclosed in a center’s body. Sarr is an agile finisher who excels at making runs to the basket, often catching defenses off guard with his speed. Additionally, his strong frame and skillful footwork can create space in the post, enabling him to take advantage of close-range opportunities.
Sarr is proficient in finishing and possesses strong ball-handling skills, which is unusual for a player of his size. He performs best on the perimeter, receiving passes at the three-point line and driving to the basket off the dribble. He is adept at driving to his right, displaying the ability to make spin moves and create scoring opportunities inside. Moreover, he is a capable passer, finding open teammates with impressive passes while dribbling.
Sarr’s primary weakness is his shooting. Despite attempting many jump shots, he is not very efficient. He is only shooting 29.5% from three-point range with Perth this year, which is not very good. His free-throw shooting is also lacking. Sarr needs to improve his jump shot to succeed in the NBA, where good shooting is crucial in today’s game, regardless of your position.
2024 NBA draft order: First Round
1. Atlanta Hawks
2. Washington Wizards
3. Houston Rockets (via BKN)
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR)
9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Utah Jazz
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GS)
15. Miami Heat
16. Philadelphia 76ers
17. Los Angeles Lakers
18. Orlando Magic
19. Toronto Raptors (via IND)
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
21. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)
22. Phoenix Suns
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via NO)
24. New York Knicks (via DAL)
25. New York Knicks
26. Washington Wizards (via LAC)
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
28. Denver Nuggets
29. Utah Jazz (via OKC)
30. Boston Celtics
