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Washington Wizards: 3 options with the No. 9 pick in the NBA draft

By N.B. Lindberg

Jun 20, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of the draft board following the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2019; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of the draft board following the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards, NBA draft (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Washington Wizards, NBA draft (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

2. Isaac Okoro: Wing- Auburn

Every evaluation of Isaac Okoro projects him as an instant impact defender. The Wizards had the worst Defensive rating of any team in the league last season and their soft as butter perimeter defense was largely to blame. Okoro should slot in right away in the Wizards’ starting lineup as their defensive specialist. At 6’6″, with a 6’9″ wingspan, Okoro can match up with any team’s top guard or wing, which is a must for a team like the Wizards that lack a true interior force on the defensive end.

Could Okoro be an All-Defense quality player in his rookie season? That would be a dream scenario but even if he isn’t that good his presence will have a positive cascading effect. With Okoro getting the most difficult defensive assignment every night the Wizards will be able to hide their lesser defenders on their opponent’s weaker scorers. This won’t vault the Wizards from worst to first in defensive efficiency but with an offense built around Bradley Beal, John Wall, and Davis Bertans the Wizards don’t need to be an elite defensive unit to be a competitive team, they just need to be competent.

Okoro’s offensive impact will be limited early on and there are worrying signs about his future offensive ability. Okoro showed polish finishing around the rim but a perceived lack of burst could prevent that skill from translating as nicely to the NBA. On top of that his free throw shooting was very poor as he only hit 67.2 percent of his attempts. That being said, Okoro was adept at getting to the line and is viewed as a plus playmaker. Even if his shot never comes around he could develop into a poor man’s Andre Iguodala.

Okoro looks to be a safe pick that would fill an immediate need for the Wizards. Just about every one-and-done wing has questions about their jump shot. If Okoro’s shot develops more than expected he could become a two-way force. If not? He’ll be a defensive menace. There is a very good chance Okoro will be available at nine for the Wizards and they should look to snag him up, unless, of course, number one on the list is available.

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