It’s not complicated. Harrison Barnes was the perfect top pick for the Wizards in the 2011 NBA Draft.
The 18-year-old from Ames, Iowa, would have filled big roles on the court — as a skilled, 6-foot-8 swingman with a high basketball IQ — and in the locker room — with maturity and strong self-awareness for his age.
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Instead, by making his return to North Carolina for his sophomore season official, Barnes further cut into Washington’s options for its two first-round picks.
What happens now? If the draft lottery doesn’t go their way, the Wizards could nab a player like San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard, who a couple of months ago might have had a better chance of getting selected with their second pick (18th overall) — obtained from Atlanta in the Mike Bibby-Kirk Hinrich swap — instead of their first.
Things also could get interesting if the Wizards find themselves staring squarely at Duke point guard Kyrie Irving. Unless they’re hoping to become the Timberwolves, expect Ernie Grunfeld to work the phones for a trade offer.
The best player available/best fit equation still points to Arizona forward Derrick Williams, who was the first guy John Wall mentioned last week when he was asked who he thought would get picked No. 1, the spot in which he was drafted last year.
“If I was in their shoes and I was guaranteed a lottery pick or had a chance to go one or two, I would come out,” Wall said when asked for his advice on whether players should leave school. “[If there’s a lockout,] you find some way to get a loan from somebody for a while.”
