Washington Wizards: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Ben Yokoyama
Draft and sign Rui Hachimura
With their first lottery selection since 2013, the Washington Wizards selected Rui Hachimura with the No. 9 pick. The Gonzaga product is an NBA-ready body who can give significant minutes to this team that will likely not be making much noise next season.
It was a reach to take Hachimura at No. 9 with Cam Reddish and Sekou Doumbouya still on the board, but this forward’s popularity in DC has grown exponentially since draft day.
In his three Summer League games, the Japanese-born player averaged 19.3 points and 7.0 rebounds, showing fans that he is ready to expand his game at the next level.
He proved his mid-range shooting ability and his strength and power around the basket. His shot selection and leadership showed an aggression that was not there in college.
While this is a small sample size, his willingness to shoot the 3-pointer and aggressiveness on the boards are two big things to look forward to for Wizards fans.
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The 6’8” forward’s maturity off the court is astonishing. He has Japanese media following his every move and he handles everyone with a smile on his face. He is also playing for Japan in the FIBA World Cup.
He signed his rookie deal on July 1, which will pay him $4.47 million in 2019-20, $4.69 million his second season and has team options for the third and fourth years, which is standard for a ninth overall pick.
Rui has a higher floor than most draftees, but his ceiling is a bit higher than anticipated. His athleticism, which was played down in Gonzaga’s system, can shine in the spaced-out NBA style of play, especially if his 3-point shot proves itself.
While he may never be an All-Star, Hachimura will be able to develop into a versatile player who can do anything the Wizards need him to do.