The 2023 NBA draft formally concluded on June 22 with the Washington Wizards cementing themselves as a rebuilding workforce for the following a number of years.
The Wizards traded picks with the Pacers, transferring up one spot to pick out Bilal Coulibaly, a flexible ahead who went by a peak spurt and performed alongside Victor Wembenyama in France. Whereas uncooked in his talents, he possesses appreciable potential for development and has been in comparison with Raptors ahead OG Anunoby. Coulibaly has additionally in contrast himself to Mikhail Bridges and Paul George.
Tristan Vukcevic was drafted at 42 by the Wizards. He lately gained an Adriatic Basketball Affiliation championship, and his potential to be an enormous man that may stretch defenses to the three-point line can be an enormous boon for Washington.
With these alternatives alongside giant quantities of long-term cap flexibility generated by buying and selling star guard Bradley Beal, the Wizards are actually planning to be one of many decrease performing groups within the league with long-term upside and skill to plan for the upcoming years. The Wizards have the chance to fill holes of their rotation, notably on the huge man function, in free company.
There are a number of huge males who went undrafted, together with Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe and Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, who would have the chance to get high quality minutes in Washington and probably earn long-term contracts to make sure they continue to be within the league for years to return. Daniel Gafford and Mike Muscala, lately acquired in a commerce, are the one huge males at the moment on the roster. Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones, each acquired throughout latest trades, are more likely to be the beginning guards.
This draft could also be thought to be one of the vital stacked drafts in latest reminiscence.
Wembenyama, drafted first total by the Spurs, could redefine the massive man function within the NBA.
The Thompson Twins, Ausar and Amen, have been drafted 4th and fifth total. They’re the primary set of brothers taken within the first 5 slots within the NBA draft.
Cam Whitmore, a DMV native, was drafted at quantity 20 by the Houston Rockets. Whitmore has versatile guard expertise that may serve the Houston Rockets effectively as they decide how you can use the number of younger gamers they’ve at their disposal.
Gaithersburg native and DeMatha Excessive Faculty grad Jordan Hawkins was chosen by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 14th choose within the draft. Hawkins is the cousin of LSU star Angel Reese, who congratulated him by way of Twitter after he was drafted. Hawkins is anticipated to be a shooter with prolonged vary.
The Wizards nonetheless have Delon Wright, Monte Morris, and the expiring contract of Kyle Kuzma as potential items throughout free company. Rumors of Kuzma being signed to a long-term contract and traded to groups together with Sacramento and Dallas have continued by the week.
Former Washington Wizard Davis Bertans was traded to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in alternate for transferring up two draft positions within the first spherical. Whereas Burton’s contract is just not absolutely assured, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have the cap house and roster room to offer him a spot and see if his talents meet workforce wants as they put together for a playoff push.