It was a big night for the Wizards as they navigated their way through the first round of the NBA Draft. While the night was light on trades, the Wizards made two, and drafted three first-rounders. Here’s everything the Wizards did on draft night, and what it could mean for their future.
Washington Wizards Night One Draft Summary
Wizards Draft: Alex Sarr
With the second overall pick in the draft, the Wizards selected Alexandre Sarr, which came as no surprise to anyone. Sarr was the clear choice for the Wizards. A 7’1″ center, Sarr can rejuvenate the Wizards in the paint, a team that finished last in rim protection last season. As I mentioned in a previous article, the Wizards have little depth at power forward/center, which Sarr can help with.
Wizards Draft: Carlton Carrington
The Wizards finished the evening as the only team in the draft with more than one lottery pick, thanks to the Deni Avdija trade (see below). Carlton “Bub” Carrington III (the 14th overall pick) is a 6’5″ point guard from Pittsburgh, and (notably) is the second youngest player in the NBA Draft. Projected to go lower originally, Carrington’s stock rose in the weeks leading up to the NBA Draft, until he reached the lottery. He’s another young player that can contribute to the Wizards’ rebuild, and hopefully, find a long-term home there.
One interesting fact about Carrington is that he’s likely not done growing. As a high school junior, Carrington stood only 5’4″ and 85 pounds, below average in both height and weight. However, he shot up quickly during his senior year. Due to his status as a late bloomer, he may not be done growing and could grow another few inches (like Anthony Edwards did).
Wizards Draft: Kyshawn George
In a late addition towards the end of the draft, the Wizards acquired the #24 pick from the New York Knicks. The Knicks had back-to-back picks, so it made sense that they would trade one of them. In exchange, they received the #26 and #52 overall picks from the Wizards.
With this pick, the Wizards selected Kyshawn George, a 6’7″ forward from the University of Miami. George is a one-and-done prospect with a nice pull-up jumper. He’s a young, intriguing prospect who shot 40.8% from three in his college season. He also has experience playing professionally overseas, and is another late bloomer, meaning he’s still learning how to use his frame. With his addition to the team, trading Avdija to the Trail Blazers makes more sense.
Deni Avdija Trade
In one of the more surprising moves of the evening, the Washington Wizards traded Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers. Their return consisted of Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft (Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick, and two second-round picks.
The initial reaction was that the Trail Blazers won this trade. Avdija is a 23-year-old two-way wing, with high upside, especially on the defensive end. He’s a solid contributor and fits well with a young core (like the one in Portland).
However, while losing Avdija doesn’t seem great, this deal makes more sense for the Wizards when you look closer. The Wizards received the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, which is the last pick in the lottery. That pick turned out to be Bub Carrington, a young guard from Pittsburgh who (hopefully) will be a good addition to the Wizards rebuild.
This trade is all about the picks. While Brogdon could serve as a veteran for the young Wizards locker room, he’s 31 years old, and will likely want to chase a championship with a contender. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was bought out by the Wizards. We’ll have to wait and see what the 2029 first-rounder and the two second rounders turn into before we can give this trade a final grade. However, if the Blazers rebuild goes according to plan, then they will be a very good team by then, and the pick will be in the mid to late first round.
Looking Forward
Originally I wrote about what the Wizards could do with the #51 overall pick (their only second-round pick in the draft). However, having traded it to the Knicks, the Wizards have no second-rounders. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t make a trade if there was a prospect they really liked, however. Still, with three first-round draft picks, the Wizards have solidified their rebuild, and given themselves young talent to work with and develop in the following years.
