Washington Wizards: 3 reasons Rui Hachimura was a bad pick
By Ben Yokoyama
2. Cam Reddish was on the board
A trade sent the No. 8 pick from the Atlanta Hawks, who were rumored to be interested in Duke freshman Cam Reddish there, to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pels acquired wings Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart and decided to take Jaxson Hayes as a rim protector, leaving Reddish on the board for the Wizards.
Though he may take more time to develop, Reddish has extremely high upside, which would allow the Wizards a potential All-Star down the road. His shooting stroke is very smooth and though he did not show his shooting skills at Duke, he has great mechanics and confidence in his shot.
His 6’8” frame and unbelievable athleticism were eye-popping for NBA scouts and he had guard-like skills in a forward-sized body. Reddish is also a good defensive player who can move with NBA-level players.
However, he makes some irrational decisions on the court. Defensively he gambles a lot and his maturity often comes into question in terms of shot selection and decision-making with the ball.
With a year of development on his shot, Reddish would work well off of John Wall and Bradley Beal nicely because he could contribute without the ball in his hands in the first few years with the team. His catch-and-shoot ability and defensive potential are tantalizing.
While Hachimura was a much safer pick, Reddish would fit well into the Wizards’ plans because they can afford to take the time to develop a player with high upside rather than draft a player who is more polished.