Washington Wizards: 5 options for pick No. 9 in 2019 NBA Draft
By Ben Yokoyama
4. Brandon Clarke
Brandon Clarke made a huge splash last season and took advantage of his opportunity show his incredible athleticism. If not for an injury to Zags’ big man Killian Tillie, Clarke probably would not even have started.
While Clarke stands just 6’9″, he made up for it this season by leading the NCAA in field goal percentage, and finishing second and third in Player Efficiency Rating and blocks per game, respectively. His shot-blocking will translate to the next level as he will likely play the 4 due to his size and has the athleticism to guard the 3 as well.
Followup to our Brandon Clarke measurements discussion. No surprise who is leading the pack early in the vertical leap testing. Both running and standing. The Gonzaga product is an elite athlete and is blessed with incredible timing as a shot blocker. pic.twitter.com/hjKcSw9jjw
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 16, 2019
However, Clarke’s range is limited to the paint and he will have to become more confident shooting the ball. He will not be able to dominate inside like he did in college due to the height of the NBA.
Clarke will likely be available at No. 9 and fits well as a forward on the second unit next year defending the rim and being a force inside. He would be the Wizards’ best shot-blocker immediately and could form a great pair with Dwight Howard inside.