The excitement level isn’t anywhere near last spring’s hype when it was obvious the Wizards had just won the rights to Kentucky point guard John Wall. That’s what happens when you get the No. 6 pick in a weak NBA Draft instead of the No. 1 selection with a potential franchise player there for the taking.
But there is some hope that Washington can at least add another piece to its rebuilding effort. It doesn’t hurt that the Wizards fleeced Atlanta for its first-round pick, too — No. 18 overall. But where exactly do they go at No. 6 if there is no star available?
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Pretty much anything other than point guard is a need for the Wizards. So that rules out Kentucky’s Brandon Knight and Connecticut’s Kemba Walker. Obviously Duke’s Kyrie Irving will be long gone by then, too. That leaves a wealth of European big men — each with his own risk and reward — and San Diego State small forward Kawhi Leonard, a safer bet but one without the All-Star ceiling.
The key for the Wizards now is not to get impatient. Since there’s not an obvious star at forward or center or shooting guard, they should grab someone who can at least become a decent starter or a good role player. They still have that second pick to fill other holes and — with another rough season likely for this team in transition — there is always next year’s loaded NBA draft class to pluck an elite talent. It’s difficult to wait. But it’s also more important to have a foundation ready if Washington gets lucky enough to nab Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Perry Jones (Baylor) or Jared Sullinger (Ohio State).
