Washington Wizards: 5 paths Wizards can take with 9th pick in NBA draft

Tread Water: The Washington Wizards draft a wing or forward with immediate impact potential but could be part of the next Wizard’s core or trade the ninth pick for more picks

As mentioned before, the Wizards are in the NBA’s middle class. Maybe the franchise enjoys the cozy directionless life that the middle entails or maybe the front office is in a wait and see mode over the franchise’s direction. If the Wizards keep the ninth pick and use it on the best available wing or forward they’re fortifying for the present, while also preparing for the future.

The franchise is in desperate need of a wing or forward if they want to contend next season, but that player could also be a core contributor a decade from now. This draft has a tremendous amount of uncertainty about who the best prospects are but there are expected to be plenty of NBA role players available after the top five.

The players that fit this bill and could reasonably be expected to be available at the ninth pick are Onyeka Okongwu, a center from USC, Obi Toppin, a forward out of Dayton, Issac Okoro, a wing out of Auburn, Precious Achiuwa, a wing/forward from Memphis, and Patrick Williams, a forward from Florida State.

None of these prospects would offer an immediate impact on both ends of the court but all could thrive in context-specific roles around Washington’s current core. As attractive as it is to build for the present and future it is an incredibly difficult task. If the prospect is not as pro-ready as anticipated it hurts the team’s chances in the immediate and casts doubt over their future impact.

The ultimate tread water move would be for the Wizards to trade the ninth pick for more picks, which slingshots it to the forefront of most likely outcomes for a franchise that has been agonizingly content on residing in NBA purgatory.