Washington Wizards Lose 2016 NBA Draft Pick To Phoenix Suns
By Ben Mehic
The Washington Wizards have lost their 2016 NBA Draft pick to the Phoenix Suns. The pick that was traded for Markieff Morris was only top-9 protected
The Washington Wizards have been operating as if they won’t be selecting in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft.
Ernie Grunfeld traded a top-9 protected first round pick to the Phoenix Suns, along with Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair, for Markieff Morris.
On Tuesday night, the NBA Draft Lottery determined whether or not the Wizards would keep their pick or if it would be heading to Phoenix. Unfortunately, luck was not on the Wizards’ side.
Washington had a 2.2 percent chance at keeping the pick, but the ping pong balls didn’t bounce their way. They lost the 13th pick to Phoenix.
Currently, the Wizards don’t have a pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but as we pointed out recently, they could potentially acquire a selection.
Assuming the Wizards sign Bradley Beal to a max contract this summer and find a way to get another max level player, the team won’t have much cap room to work with.
With that said, Washington would be forced to fill out their remaining roster spots with low-salaried veterans and rookies.
Signing more than one player to a rookie-scale contract would give Washington more flexibility and would allow them to avoid the luxury tax. Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has avoided the tax in the past and that likely won’t change anytime soon.
Washington could purchase a second round pick.
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They have been interviewing prospects during the NBA Draft Combine and all it takes is for one player to stand out.
Michael Gbinije out of Syracuse, for instance, is a prospect whose stock has risen as a result of his play during the combine.
The Wizards spoke to the forward and could acquire a second round pick to secure the prospect.
Grunfeld and the rest of Washington’s front office is also evaluating talent that will go undrafted.
If the Wizards do end up signing more than one player to a max deal, they will have to look for cheap roster fillers. Agents know this and will make their clients available for summer league and preseason.
So, while the Wizards don’t have a draft pick currently, they are still very much involved in the draft process. General managers are most active during the trade deadline and during the draft when all of the front offices are connecting, hoping to move up in the draft and acquire assets.
Last year, no one expected the Washington Wizards to move up in the draft to select Kelly Oubre, who didn’t even work out for the team during the predraft process. All situations are fluid, basically.
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It’s disappointing that the Wizards don’t have a pick, but they do have Markieff Morris. I’m sure we’ll look back years from now and say “man, if the Wizards had kept the pick they could have had x.” Right now, though, the trade doesn’t look too bad. All we can do is shrug our shoulders and hope the current young core develops.