clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Washington Wizards select Aaron White with second round pick in 2015 NBA Draft

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Good news: The Washington Wizards are not trading their second round pick for cash considerations. Instead, they'll be taking Iowa's Aaron White with the 49th overall pick. Seeing the Wizards take White here isn't a shock, considering they brought him in for a workout last week.

Bad news: We probably won't see White in a Wizards uniform this season, according to Draft Express:

It's sad to see White probably won't be with the team right away, but it keeps space open for this season when White probably wouldn't crack the rotation anyway.

What to expect when White joins the Wizards

If you were hoping the Wizards would add a stretch four in this year's draft, Aaron White fits the billing in principle, at least. He only shot 35 percent from beyond the arc last season with Iowa, but as BT Powerhouse explains, he's not just a standstill shooter:

White is not going to be the go-to guy for an NBA team at the next level, but he can do many different things in the NBA. He did not shoot many three-point shots in college, but he has the ability to knock-down long distance jumpers and attack the rim, which makes him a dangerous stretch-four. He is pretty athletic, which helps him score at the rim. He is a crafty defender because he has good hands, he averaged 1.3 SPG in his senior season at Iowa. White is a very intelligent basketball player and he always seems to make the right decisions on both ends of the floor.

Our sister blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, broke down where White can help the Wizards on the defensive end:

He generated quite a few steals by getting his long arms into passing lanes on the perimeter (and then was very good at taking those steals in for dunks). Was a very good defensive rebounder and used his leaping ability and length to serve as a decent help defender and occasional shot blocker. Not great on perimeter players, but showed versatility in his ability to at least temporarily handle players at any position on the court.

As a 23 year old senior, White is on the opposite site of spectrum from Kelly Oubre when it comes to potential, but a year or two in Europe could do White some real good in developing his shot to round out his offensive game. It's not a sexy pick, but it could provide some good value in a couple of years.