With the NBA draft approaching in June, the Washington Wizards are evaluating what prospects to choose with their second round draft pick. They are set to pick 49th overall and hope to draft a player that can help them take the next step to be an elite team in the NBA.
Historically, the Wizards have had success in selecting players in the second round who have had successful careers in the NBA. Past players that have been drafted by the Wizards in the second round include: Jordan Clarkson (Lakers), Shelvin Mack (Hawks) and Steve Blake (Trail Blazers).
In the second round, they need to address the guard position and more specifically, one that can demand opponents to guard on the perimeter. Besides Bradley Beal, they really don’t have any knock-down three-point shooters.
Here are players that the Wizards should look to target with their 49th overall pick:
1. Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
Harrison played two seasons at Kentucky for coach John Calipari. Andrew and his twin brother Aaron were the top high school recruits in the country before choosing the Wildcats. Unfortunately, they did not live up to expectations, even though they both had successful seasons.
This past season, he averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds as he helped Kentucky reach the Final Four before losing to Wisconsin. At the draft combine, Harrison measured in at 6’5, 213 pounds, which grants him the ability to be a combo guard at the point guard or shooting guard position. Even though his statistics don’t jump out at you immediately, Harrison has shown the ability to be able to knock down the deep ball while also being able to finish at the rim through contact against opposing big men.
Defensively, Harrison’s physical traits make him versatile as well. He can guard the smaller, quicker guards while also being able to guard the bigger, more physical guards. Coming into his freshman year at Kentucky, defense was the weakest part of his game, but now it is the most improved part. Playing behind John Wall would help Harrison take his game to the next level.
If Harrison is still available in the second round at the 49th pick, the Wizards must seriously consider taking him.
2. Olivier Hanlan, Boston College
Hanlan isn’t one of the most popular names in the draft pool of prospects, but his abilities transfer well to the NBA. Boston College relied heavily on Hanlan all year to score the ball and he did just that averaging 19.5 points per game while also posting 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Standing 6’3 and only weighing 186 pounds, point guard will be the designated position for Hanlan at the next level. One weakness that draft analysts have noticed is his lack of athleticism. But at 22 years old, he is a savvy player who understand how to create angles that give him the advantage on both ends of the floor.
One part of his game that is particularly strong is his pick-and-roll offense. Because of the lack of athleticism, Hanlan often needs a ball screen to create space between him and his defender. The Wizards offense is a heavy dose of on-the-ball screens that help John Wall penetrate and dissect the defense, which fits Hanlan’s game perfectly.
Even though he only shot 35 percent from three this past season, Hanlan has shown he can consistently knock them down. Because Boston College relied heavily on him to score, he had to take a high volume of shots, which doesn’t always do percentages justice. He could definitely stretch defenses with his ability to shoot, which is what the Wizards are looking for.
If he is able to adjust to the physicality of the NBA and accept a lesser role than he had in college, Hanlan can have a successful career. Again, playing behind John Wall would be great for him and improve his abilities on both ends of the floor. If Harrison is off the board and Hanlan is still available, the Wizards would be getting a solid player off the bench to provide scoring that they missed this season.
Next: NBA: 5 Playoff Teams Facing Franchise-Altering Summers
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