FanPost

History is Not On Your Side

With the 2019 NBA Draft on the horizon, the Washington Wizards have some decisions to make regarding their team and what they are going to do with the 9th pick. The 9th pick, historically since 2010, has been rather mediocre. This pick has been host to overhyped college prospects that turned out to be average role players. The Wizards do not need that on their team right now or for the future. They need somebody to contribute right away. With the ongoing rumors of whether they should trade Bradley Beal for future compensation or keep him, the Wizards need to draft somebody with good scoring capabilities. The best scenario for the Wizards to do is trade back in the draft and grab a 3-and-D player and a future pick.

There are many good 3-and-D wings in the middle to back of the draft that could fill the missing wing role next to Beal (if he is kept). However recently, many mock drafts peg the Wizards drafting a center that has some sort of long-term potential. That includes Bol Bol, Jaxson Hayes, Goga Bitadze, and Mfiondu Kabengele. These centers on-court production will probably at best post numbers that Wizards restricted free agent Thomas Bryant had this past season (10.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg). The Wizards should stay away from frontcourt positional players in the draft because they already have talent there. Bobby Portis Jr. and Bryant can occupy the 4/5 and Markieff Morris and Dwight Howard can contribute off the bench.

In the backcourt, Tomas Satoransky has done a good job holding down the point guard duties since star John Wall has been out with injury. In a very top heavy draft, most of the point guards will be gone by the 9th pick. They can also be patient with this position, the 2020 draft will be composed of many top point guards to pick from. the Wizards will most likely be back in the lottery again so no rush. The shooting guard position held down by Beal is tricky. Do the Wizards keep him for the long run or do they trade? With the 9th pick, it isn't many surefire guards at that spot unless somebody drops which is highly unlikely.

Wizards fans have been hopeful of the thought Cam Reddish dropping to them. His draft stock has been on the rise because of his lucrative potential. He is the 3-and-D wing that the Wizards need. He thrives in the transition game and the Wizards were 9th in Pace of Play this past season. A match made in heaven. But sorry to break the bad news, it isn't happening. If he is drafted before the Wizards pick, as soon as it happens, the calls to trade back need to ensue.

Many options will be in the middle to late part of the first round. Players that won't have too many expectations but based on college production they will exceed those expectations. There are two outliers at the 9th pick for the Wizards to choose from. These two prospects have amazing scoring ability, potential, and possible defensive upside to make an impact from the jump. Sekou Doumbaya and Kevin Porter Jr. have very high potential and might be worth the look at the 9th pick.

History is not on the Wizards side with having the 9th pick. Many teams have failed at drafting the right player at this position. The best thing to do is trade back and acquire what you can for the pick. Many teams are pick hungry and because the pick is in the top 10 many teams will overvalue and give what the Wizards ask for.

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.