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3 Reasons the Washington Wizards Should Draft a Point Guard

By Ethan Smith

Washington Wizards John Wall (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Washington Wizards John Wall (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Washington Wizards Troy Brown Thomas Bryant
Washington Wizards Troy Brown Thomas Bryant (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

There’s Youth Elsewhere

The Washington Wizards might actually have enough young talent elsewhere to justify a point guard pick, even with needs all over the roster. Troy Brown Jr’s emergence towards the end of the season is encouraging. He seems comfortable and capable of playing either point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. Plus, he can guard multiple positions well.

Despite early apprehension about last year’s first-round draft pick, Brown has fans excited for more next season. After becoming a regular part of the rotation in late February, Brown averaged eight points, five rebounds, and two assists in 23 minutes per game.

Re-signing Thomas Bryant should be a top priority this summer. Bryant struggled to find minutes early in the season behind Dwight Howard and Ian Mahinmi but eventually became the Wizards nightly starting center. He finished the season with franchise-best marks in single-season field goal percentage, 2-point field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, and offensive rating.

As a restricted free agent, the Wizards should be ready to match nearly any offer Bryant gets. With only one full season under his belt, he’s still pretty raw, but he developed excellently throughout the season and has a great report with Bradley Beal. Any offers Bryant receives should be affordable for the Wizards, but we’ll see. Howard and Mahinmi are slated to cost the Wizards $21 Million next season.

Even Devin Robinson has shown a lot in very little time. Robinson, who was hampered with a hip injury for most of the year, spent a lot of the season with the Capital City Go-Go. However, in a few games at the end of the season, Robinson has shown signs of what could be. He needs work but there’s potential.

So with, and a somewhat position-less ball handler in Brown, an emerging big man in Bryant, and a raw, springy small forward in Robinson, the Wizards could have something that resembles a young core group. They just need a true point guard.

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