Who the Washington Wizards Should Target in the 2015 NBA Draft
After making some noise in the playoffs, the Washington Wizards are aiming to break through the conference semifinal plateau next year. The 2015 NBA draft is their nearest opportunity to make some upgrades.
Their first-round slaying of the Toronto Raptors was impressive, but they didn't have enough firepower to upend the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in Round 2. Even if John Wall was at full strength, there are doubts as to whether Washington could compete with the East's elite clubs like Cleveland, Atlanta and Chicago.
Wall has some promising sidekicks to work with, including sharpshooter Bradley Beal, rising forward Otto Porter and rock-solid anchor Marcin Gortat. But the roster could use improvement in several areas.
Washington needs a deeper, more potent frontcourt if they want to take the next step. They can't maximize Wall's efforts by simply platooning Kris Humphries and Kevin Seraphin behind Nene at power forward—especially because all three are non-shooters. They used Paul Pierce intermittently at that spot in the playoffs, but a full-time stretch 4 might be the asset who gets them over the hump.
In addition to more post depth and shooting forwards, the Wizards would be wise to scout a long-term backup point guard if the opportunity presents itself.
There are a slew of intriguing options who will be available when they pick at No. 19. Who should top the wish list?
Target No. 1: Stretch 4 (Trey Lyles or Kevon Looney)
Washington landed in the top third of the NBA in three-point percentage in 2014-15, thanks to the likes of Beal, Ramon Sessions and Pierce.
But unfortunately, it didn't have enough other weapons to attempt a substantial amount, so it ranked 27th in makes. The Wizards power forwards combined for 0.5 three-pointers per game. That's a problem in today's NBA, where shooting from that position is becoming a bigger priority
In order to take and make triples more regularly, they need to get more long-range production from the 4 spot.
A couple of promising freshmen are prime candidates to gradually fill the void.
Kentucky's Trey Lyles doesn't have the notoriety of Karl-Anthony Towns or Willie Cauley-Stein, but that's just dandy for Washington. The Wizards would love to see him fall to No. 19.
The 6'10" native of Canada has plenty of length to play power forward, and he's shown the type of agility and dexterity to play near and away from the basket. His range didn't quite extend to three-point distance as a freshman (just 14 percent on 29 attempts), but his smooth mechanics indicate he'll quickly grow into a long-range threat.
The other stretch 4 choice in the mid-first-round range is UCLA's Kevon Looney. He's more raw as a shot-creator, but he'll be a better rebounder and three-point shooter early on. He shot 42 percent from behind the arc in a modest sample size (22-of-53), and he hauled in 11.9 boards per 40 minutes.
If Looney can refine his game, he'll be a key weapon in the future:
"Looney has a lot of physical attributes which make him very intriguing, and adding him to Washington's aging frontcourt could help them down the line," said Derek Bodner of USA Today.
Target No. 2: Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis could just as easily be the Wizards' No. 1 target, and he also has stretch 4 potential. But he's analyzed differently because he can play the 5 and has more low-post talent.
Arkansas' 6'11" sophomore tore up the SEC en route to Conference Player of the Year honors in 2014-15, displaying low-post grit as well as the occasional outside shot. Portis piled up 23.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per 40 minutes while supplying energy on defense and committing just 2.9 fouls.
He's not a top-shelf athlete, nor is he an ultra-advanced creator yet. However, his footwork, awareness and post skills began to blossom this past season, and he's constantly winning battles for position.
CBSSports.com's Zach Harper explained Portis' potential value to the Wizards
"Bobby Portis could be a great replacement for [Nene] in the future," said Harper. "Portis is a tough power forward who could be a great dump-off target for John Wall."
Portis would not only be able to play the power forward spot, but he could also intermittently relieve Gortat because he's big enough to play the 5. His standing reach exceeds nine feet, and he has a 7'2" wingspan and 245-pound frame.
Although he's not the flashiest prize in the mid-first-round range, he offers magnificent overall value.
Target No. 3: Backup Point Guard (Jerian Grant and Tyus Jones)
Ramon Sessions isn't a bad backup point guard. However, he's probably not the long-term answer for Washington, and his contract expires in 2016.
One or more attractive floor generals may still be on the board when the Wizards are on the clock.
Jerian Grant is from the D.C./Maryland area, and he recently worked out for Washington. If he slips through the cracks, he could provide a poor-man's Wall type of impact off the bench.
Grant brings speed, length and smarts to the NBA after a phenomenal senior year and career at Notre Dame. He was the catalyst for the Irish's high-octane attack, and he led the ACC in assists per game, points produced and win shares. At 22 years old, he has the experience to step in and wreak havoc immediately.
Instead of having a caretaker run things when Wall's resting, the Wizards would have a dangerous slasher and a drive-and-dish creator. Grant has the tools to assault the rim and score or distribute with surgical precision. He's not a dead-eye three-point shooter, but his reliable 15- to 20-foot jumper will keep defenders honest.
Another point guard who may still be on the board is Tyus Jones, Duke's championship-winning floor general.
The 6'2" signal-caller didn't enter his freshman campaign as a clear-cut one-and-done prospect, but his shooting and playmaking savvy bumped him into the first-round conversation. He'll operate the pick-and-roll for the Wizards, find the team's high-percentage targets and consistently bury triples.
Jones is a terrific option if Grant's off the board, because he also owns leadership skills, vision and a great feel for running offense. As Jones learns to compensate for his uninspiring burst and below-average size, he'll become a superb backup point guard.
All of the above targets would be quality additions, but the finest choice among them is Lyles. He offers the best mix of noticeable skills, versatile tools and tangible potential for the future.
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
Dan O'Brien covers the NBA draft for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR
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