The Washington Wizards hold the 9th pick in the NBA draft. These are the three best prospects to help their playoff chances now and into the future.
With the NBA draft set for November 18th, the clocking is ticking for the Washington Wizards on who they’ll make the ninth pick in the draft. This marks the second consecutive season the Wizards will have the ninth pick. Last year’s pick, Rui Hachimura, has shown signs of promise and the Wizards are looking to add to the long list of successful NBA players taken with the pick.
The 2020 NBA draft has the least amount of consensus of any draft in recent memory. While most mock drafts (Yahoo, CBS, ESPN) have Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and LaMelo Ball as the top three picks, there is no consistent order to the top three. With the lack of certainty at the top of the draft, a highly regarded prospect could fall. While the Wizards should pounce if that’s the case, it is still unlikely to happen.
With the return of John Wall and Bradley Beal’s ascension, the Wizards will be looking to target a player that can slot in next to their All-Star backcourt. That doesn’t mean all guards are off the table, especially if a highly regarded one is available, but the Wizards will be focusing their energy towards wings and forwards. The Wizards had the league’s worst defense last season but an average offense, even without John Wall. The Wizards should be targeting players that can make an impact on defense from day one. These are the three most realistic players that the Wizards should have their eye on.
3. Patrick Williams: Forward/Wing- Florida State
It’s no secret that the Wizards need help on defense and Patrick Williams provides an instant boost. Standing 6’8″ with a 6’11″ wingspan Williams has the perfect dimensions for a wing defender. As the NBA trends smaller at the forward positions he could even be used as a small-ball center. The NBA has become more about defensive versatility than defensive ability and Williams is about as versatile as they come.
While Williams should help instantly on the defensive end, his offensive game is raw. Fortunately, there is a lot of optimism that he is only scratching the surface of his offensive potential. In his lone season at Florida State, he showed a good ability to finish with either hand at the rim and create space for jumpers. While his 3-point shooting (32-percent) lagged behind his 2-point shooting (50.3-percent), his free throw shooting (83.8-percent) suggests that Williams could grow into a serious 3-point threat as college free throw shooting percentages are a better indicator of NBA 3-point success than college 3-point success.
Scouts view Williams’ playmaking ability as being one of his selling points, which is odd for a player that had close to twice the number of turnovers as assists in their lone college season. One reason Williams’ playmaking didn’t shine was that he was on a very good Florida State team with veteran guards. Which is a similar situation that he would find himself in Washington. Even if his playmaking isn’t a plus from day one it will hardly need to be.
Another positive indicator for Williams’ future is that he is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft. Williams likely has more room for growth than most prospects and when combined with his size and athleticism gives him tremendous upside for the ninth pick in the draft. The only reason the Wizards might pass on Williams is if they’re looking for a player who will help impact the team on both ends of the court in year one. Williams is a project but due to his age, production, and upside he’s a project the Wizards shouldn’t pass on. Unless, if number two on the list is available.