Lottery-caliber talent available for Wizards
Team needs to replenish bench with forward or center
On draft night, the Washington Wizards should think big. As in, big men.
When the Wizards make their selection at No. 15 on Thursday, they can find lottery-caliber talent to fill the team’s single greatest need: replenishing the rotation with an athletic power forward or center who can play immediate minutes. The three current rotational bigs are 30 years old and older, while starter Marcin Gortat and reserve center Jason Smith will enter the final year of their contracts. Sure, the Wizards can use a backup point guard for John Wall and more wing depth for small-ball rotations, but Washington lacks a young big man who can help now as well as become a central piece in the franchise’s future. Here are four potential draft picks for Washington to consider:
The stopper
Robert Williams III, Texas A&M, 6-foot-10, 240 pounds
When he could have left college after his first season, Robert Williams III, who won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman, felt he still had more to prove and more to learn. In a surprising move, Williams passed on becoming a potential lottery pick to play one more season with Texas A&M. The decision advanced his game as Williams made more starts, improved his shooting percentage and blossomed into an even more ferocious defensive rebounder and shot-blocker. As a sophomore, Williams averaged 2.6 blocks per game and his 155 blocks placed him third on the program’s all-time rankings.
While Williams can protect the paint and stay out of foul trouble, his offensive game is also fairly focused on that area. Last season, Williams made 74.1 percent of his shots near the rim.
Williams recently has drawn more attention from the Los Angeles Clippers, who own the 12th and 13th picks, and he may be wearing some other team’s hat by the time the Wizards get on the clock. Moritz Wagner, Michigan, 6-111⁄ 241 In the modern NBA, a good big man operates as a threat to space the floor and Moritz Wagner is a center who loves shooting 3s. As a junior, Wagner attempted 4.1 3-pointers per game and averaged better than 33 percent from every spot around the arc. However, Wagner found his spot at the top of the key where he connected on 30 of 76 attempts (39.5 percent), according to Synergy Sports. While Wagner will never be confused as a quick and athletic big man, he performed well at the NBA draft combine by ranking second in the shuttle run and lane agility drills among centers.
The forward
Kevin Knox, Kentucky, 6-9, 213 Here’s another player who conceivably will play more on the wing than as a big, but Kevin Knox deserves a closer look if he remains available at No. 15. In his only season at Kentucky, Knox posted averages of 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.