2021 NBA DRAFT
Owned Draft Picks: Own 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #15)
Figuring out the future of Bradley Beal with this organization is going to be a large part of the Wizards’ offseason, but everything with them will start with the 2021 NBA Draft set to take place on July 29. This year, the Wizards have one pick in the draft that is already determined to be the 15th pick in this year’s draft.
Over the last two seasons, Washington has ended up with the 9th pick in the draft, which they used on Rui Hachimura in 2019 and Deni Avdija last year in 2020. The last time the Wizards picked 15th overall, they drafted Troy Brown Jr. in 2018, who was traded to the Chicago Bulls this year at the NBA trade deadline as part of a three-team deal that delivered Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchison to Washington.
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This year, the Wizards sit right in the middle of the draft with the 15th pick yet again, but there are a lot of options for them with this pick. The easiest thing for them to do would be to add yet another young, talented player to their roster in attempts to build a sustainable young core around their two superstars, but this may not present the Wizards with the best chance for short-term success.
Washington will be looking for ways to add talent around both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal in the offseason, which is why this pick absolutely could be included in a possible draft night trade that would bring in a third well-known name to the Wizards.
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Myles Turner (Pacers), Kevin Love (Cavaliers) and Harrison Barnes (Kings) are just a few of the names that have surfaced over recent weeks as possible targets for the Wizards in trades this offseason, but these are just rumors and there is really no telling what Washington has planned yet until the draft nears closer.
If Washington does keep the pick, then guys like F Franz Wagner (Michigan), G Davion Mitchell (Baylor), F Ziaire Williams (Stanford) and G Josh Giddey (Australia) are all possible names that could still be on the board with the 15th overall pick. Draft night will definitely present a lot of fireworks around the league and Washington could very well be a part of a couple of them.
