Washington Wizards: 5 paths Wizards can take with 9th pick in NBA draft
How the Washington Wizards use the ninth pick in the NBA draft will signal which direction the franchise aims to head in 2020-21 and beyond
The Washington Wizards missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season on their way to the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The franchise is fast approaching an inflection point. They are neither horrible nor great, young nor old, expensive nor cheap. The Wizards find themselves in the dreaded NBA purgatory that exists between contention and reconstruction.
However, there are avenues out of the middle for the Wizards and it all starts with that pick. What they do with the pick will show what direction the franchise aims to head. These are the five rabbit holes the ninth pick can send the Wizards down.
All-in for 2020-21: Trade the ninth pick for veteran help
Bradley Beal just averaged 30 points a game. John Wall will be 18 months removed from an Achilles injury and looks to be as explosive as ever. Rui Hachimura had a promising rookie campaign. Thomas Bryant is a center who can hit threes. The Wizards may feel they’re close to pushing the Eastern Conference elite but know they’re more than a rookie away. So the Wizards package the ninth pick for a veteran that can help right away.
The economic uncertainty might force some teams to make tough decisions about their roster and the Wizards could capitalize on a team trying to restructure and shed salary. Who could be available? Al Horford’s game would be a perfect fit with the Washington Wizards and he very well could become available if the Philadelphia 76ers realizes that in 2020 you don’t need two franchise centers.
Would the San Antonio Spurs blow it all up and make LaMarcus Aldridge available? Andre Drummond’s saga with the Cleveland Cavaliers always seemed destined to end with a trade for more assets. Blake Griffin hasn’t been healthy and the Detroit Pistons could look to move on from the former All-NBA power forward. The Washington Wizards, if they’re willing to take on salary and live a life of luxury tax, could easily package the ninth pick for an impact veteran.