Washington Wizards NBA Draft 2011: 3 Draft Scenarios for Their 3 Picks
The optimism in Wizards-land going into next season took a bit of a blow when they were slotted with sixth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. With the league's fourth worst record they were certainly hoping for betterāthough the law of averages suggested they might fall after climbing four spots last year to get the top pick.
As a result, dreams of Enes Kanter have been deferred (though as my associate Kevon Robinson mentions, heās hoping to land in Chocolate City anyway, and Chad Ford has the Wizards getting him in his latest mock draft).
But they will be on the clock the night of June 23rd,Ā so even if they can't land their man, there are still a lot of players up for grabs who could help them in the long run.
Since so much of the draft depends on who is available when your team is called, Iāve created a matrix of options for the Wizards to address their weaknesses. They need help everywhere but point guard, so it's all about getting talent in multiple places this year.
My preferred Kanter/Chris Singleton/Marshon Brooks draft is likely doomed, with Kanter getting a top-three grade, Singleton meandering into the lottery and Brooks experiencing a meteoric rise from the mid-second round to mid-first round.
It stands to reason that fans (and of course the front office) should be prepared for a couple different options.
The team has three picksātwo in the first round (No. 6 and No. 18) and one in the second (No. 34)āso Iāve picked three potential prospects for the Wiz in each scenario.
Iāll warn you ahead of time that Iām not going to investigate the trendy picks for the Wizards. Kwahi Leonard/Jan Vesely at No. 6 or the likely unavailable Chris Singleton/Tristan Thompson/Markieff Morris trifecta at No. 18 have been discussed ad nauseam.
But itās worth mentioning that if any of the Wizards top four slips to them (Derrick Williams, Kanter, Vesely, Leonard in that order), they will likely be selected.
While this wonāt shed significant insight into what the teamās front office is plotting, it stands as a reasonable projection of how the draft may play out for the team. But even before embarking on a player-by-player look at their draft, let's take a look at potential draft-day-deals for the Wiz.
Three Potential Trade Opportunities
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NOTE: I donāt have any scenario for the Wizards moving up in the draft. They will likely have to mortgage a lot of assets to make such a deal work, with the Timberwolves and Jazz the most likely partners, and I donāt see that helping a team with so many holes to fill.
If Derrick Williams and Enes Kanter are gone, Iām not enamored with the sixthĀ pick much more than I would be with one a few slots later. The problem is other teams probably arenāt either, though Charlotte is a more likely candidate to get enticed by a prospect than the savvy Houston front office.
Either way, there are contributors with equal or less risk available in the middle of the round than the young (international) prospects weāre likely to end up with in the lottery.
Singleton could be an option at No. 9 or No. 14 and grabbing another pick around the selection they got in the Kirk Heinrich trade could enable them to take players like Jeremy Tyler or Kenneth Faried.
Iād take that combo over Jan Vesely, who is intriguing but rail-thin and sports a questionable jump shot for a swingman.
Washington Trades Pick 18 to Chicago for Pick 28 and 30
The Bulls are apparently high on Klay Thompson (yes, folks, thatās a weed joke), and while the Wizards and several other teams would be interested in the middle of the round, I wouldn't bite for another couple picks.
If heās still around when their name is called at eighteen itās possible the Wiz can acquire two picks where there will be some talent available. At picks 28 and 30, someone like Tyler Honeycutt could still be hanging around or Charles Jenkins who the Bulls will likely take if they decide not to trade up.
This trade increases the likelihood they get one of the other guys on my list in the coming slides. If the Wiz can have four players in the top 34 picks competing for roster spots this fall, I think it stands to reason they can hit the mark with one or two of them.
Now, on to the picks.
First Scenario: Knight, Tyler, Vucevic
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Brandon Knight, G
Iām sure to get a few crazy looks for mentioning Knight and not Leonard/Vesely, especially since he's even more likely to be gone when the Wizards draft, but again, I am not discussing them here.
Knight is the youngest player in the draft and can play the 2-guard in addition to spelling John Wall at the point. The Wiz need depth at the guard positions with Nick Young possibly taking more money to play elsewhere in free agency (Iāve heard from someone close to the team that they will undoubtedly extend him his QO and hope the bidding doesnāt get out of control).
I think Knight may end up being the closest thing to a āstarā in this draft, despite his inconsistency at Kentucky. Heās a fluid player with a good looking jump shot, and the Wizards need scoring as much as they need a guy with a competitive edge. Knight fits both molds.
Jeremy Tyler, PF
Tyler has been rising on many mocks, but not because he is such an unknown commodity. He decided to forego his senior year of high school to play in Israelāa gamble that turned into a bit of a disaster as he struggled to get playing time.
Heās made a comeback of sorts playing for Bob Hill in Japan, but people still questioned his character based on his taking the road less traveled to the NBA.
However, teams have been pleasantly surprised in interviews, so while he may be available in the second round, I think teams will spend a late first-round pick on the 6ā10ā PF with elite athleticism.
The Knicks, specifically, have been mentioned as a possibility the pick before the Wizards, although they are also reportedly enamored with Josh Selby as well.
Tylerās ups could help address the Wizards problems on the glass, and his offensive proclivity meshes well with JaVale McGeeās totally unrefined post game.
Heās got great upside, and I believe his international experience will be a net-positive for him getting used to playing in the NBAāheās obviously dedicated to basketball above all else.
Nikola Vucevic, C
One NBA GM recently made the comment that Vucevic vs. Kanter was a āpick āemā scenario. I donāt agree, but Vucevicās got talent and is relatively unknownāmost drafts still have him at the very end of the first roundāwhich would make him a good value pick at No. 34.
Heās got great size and a fairly polished offensive game, something that canāt be said of current Wizards center JaVale McGee. It will also give the Wizards more height, which is crucial for improving their rebounding totalsāespecially considering weāre depending on undersized post players like Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin for considerable minutes.
Second Scenario: Valanciunas, Brooks, Johnson
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Jonas Valanciunas, PF/C
Itās looking more and more like Valanciunas will be able to get out of his European contract at a reasonable price, so my worries may not have been well founded, if merely well meaning.
Heās got good size and may be the top center prospect in this draft. Heās great defensively and doesnāt try to do more than heās capable of, which is more than we can say about our teamās current center.
It will take some time to develop him but heās been playing well at the highest level of European basketball and has continued to be one of the top talents in international competitions, such as the U-18 games in his epic matchup with Enes Kanter.
Itās hard to come by good center prospects in this day and age, so while he has some risk (offensive development, filling out physically), heās got great upside as well.
Marshon Brooks, SG
When people werenāt drooling over him, I had Brooks as an option for the Wiz in the second round. Those days are gone, and if the team doesnāt pull the trigger on him here, Brooks will be as well.
The most notable development here was learning about the 6ā5ā Brooksā 7ā1ā wingspan, which gives him good height and great length for a shooting guard. Heās also an accurate and developed shooter.
I think his four-year college career and the role he was forced into as the end-all-be-all for Providence offsets itself a bit in terms of upside. If the Wiz take a forward with their first selection, this is my pick at No. 18.
JaJuan Johnson, SF/PF
Johnson had a tremendous career at Purdue but is not getting much respect in this draft for his efforts. Some question his basketball IQ, but his great size (6ā9ā with a 7ā2ā wingspan) and athleticism make him valuable as a Taj Gibson like force off the bench.
While his ability to score in the lane suggests heād be most comfortable at the PF position, his athleticism belies the possibility that he could play at SF in a lineup with Andray Blatche. Heās quick and has good length to bother opposing players on the perimeter and can post up inside and conjure up offensive rebounds, so Blatche can roam around as a mid-range mismatch.
Heās also improving as a three-point shooter, so he may end up with enough range to get by on the wing. Heās added some weight while maintaining a 38ā vertical, and after four years in college heās more ready to contribute than other prospects available here.
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Third Scenario: Biyombo, Montiejunas, Leslie
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Bismack Biyombo, PF/C
Another defensive oriented frontcourt player, Biyombo is an athletic freak with an NBA body and 7ā7ā wingspan. At least thatās why teams are considering him in the lottery.
But apparently the Wizards eschewed an opportunity to see him play in Spain this past week, indicating that theyāre not as keen drafting him on pure upside as a Serge Ibaka/Ben Wallace type player.
Heās been slipping down draft boards due to his limited offensive repertoire, which is by all accounts very raw, and a lack of game footage on the Congolese prospect.
But even just a quick glance at āBBā makes him an enticing selection. He looks like an NBA player, and registering the first triple-double in Nike Hoops Summit history shows what heās capable of.
He projects as an elite shot blocker and rebounder, and he is apparently very mature and motivated to come succeed in the NBA.
While originally slated as a lottery pick, players like Chris Singleton, Tristan Thompson and the Morris twins have jumped him on a lot of boards because teams know what they will contribute at the next level.Ā
It's possible he ends up as an option for the team at pick 18, and if they get a second chance after passing on him they would be wise to develop him in competition with Kevin Seraphin.
Donatas Motiejunas, PF
At the risk of making a topical comparison, Motiejunas has a bit of young Dirk Nowitzki in him. Heās a great mid-range shooter who needs to work on his defense and long-range shooting. He could stand to gain 15 pounds of muscle, but heās probably the most polished international player in the draft.
When he declared for the draft last year, before withdrawing, he was regarded as a lottery pick. But he has slipped on boards after a decent but uninspiring year with Benetton Trevisio.
If Motiejunas can become a knock down three-point shooter, heāll become a complete scorer, someone who is as comfortable working on the block as he is flaring out to the corner for a spot up jumper.
His aggressiveness is what I like most, as heās willing to bully his way to the bucket or pull up over smaller defenders from short range.
Travis Leslie, SF
Maybe the best athlete in the draft, Leslie can play the SF position in addition to spending some time at SGāagain, depending on how dealings with Nick Young work out. He can rebound well, especially for someone who measures in around 6ā5ā in shoes.
The thought of John Wall throwing Leslie alley-oops should make Wizards fans salivate. Heās got a 40 inch vertical leap, and if he can improve his three-point shooting (heās an 80 percent FT shooter, so the ability is there), it will be impossible to keep him out of the paint.
He somewhat duplicates what guys like Trevor Booker and Othyus Jeffers could contribute, but he has more upside than either. With SF Rashard Lewis around for another season and Trevor Booker likely spending time at the other forward slot, Leslie could fill in as a penetrator and offensive rebounder at the position.
Three Plus Three: Six Other Prospects to Watch
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Tobias Harris, SF
Harris has shot up boards due to his versatility and high basketball IQ, but he should be available with the Wizards second pick. Itās always good to have a character/glue guy who can do a lot of different things on the court. Iād be pretty happy if the Wizards ended up with him.
Charles Jenkins, G
Doug Gottleib has him as a better pick than Kemba Walker. Thatās right, top-eight selection Kemba Walker.
Some teams are taking notice of his multi-dimensional game, and despite playing four years in college, he still has upside coming out of Hofstra. Heās a scorer but can handle the ball and would be ready to contribute immediately.
He wonāt be available in the second round, but the No. 18 pick is probably a bit early for him, so while Iād love to have him on the team, I donāt see it as particularly likely without some draft-day trading going on.
Tyler Honeycutt, SF
Honeycutt originally projected in the middle of the first round and may eventually go there. But with the Bulls looking for help at the SG position, theyāre more likely to go with Charles Jenkins or Norris Cole at the end of the first round, and Miami will obviously be targeting PG and C help.
Thereās a scenario where he could fall to the Wiz in the second but not a highly likely one.
Honeycutt is one of those guys who can contribute in a variety of ways, and his length will help him be a good defender at the swing position. Heās got an improving jump shot and good athleticism, so heād be great to develop while Rashard Lewis clogs up the teamās cap space.
Keith Benson, C
If Valanciunas and Vucevic are off the board, Benson is definitely the next best center available. He needs to add weight (heās almost 7-feet but only 215 pounds), but heās athletic and will finally get the coaching he needs to blossom into an all around player.
Heās fairly efficient on offense and averaged more than three blocks a game his past two seasons at Oakland.
Gary Flowers, SF
A good shooter with solid size as a SF, some still view him as a PF at the NBA level. He hit 40% of this 3PT attempts and has athleticism and a 7ā4ā wingspan. He needs work on defense, but has the skills to be great with consistent effort on that end.
Relatively unknown coming out of Southern Miss, Iāve heard Golden Eagles fans rave about him, though nobody seems to notice, considering he doesnāt find a spot on many two-round mocks. If the Wizards add a pick later in the second round, he should be on their radar.
Iman Shumpert, G
An athletic combo guard, Shumpertās knock is his shooting and shot selection. But he projects as a good defensive player with elite athleticism whoās matured a lot since high school. He's another mid-second round prospect.
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