Who knows? Maybe nine is a lucky number for the Washington Wizards.
The Washington Wizards aren’t the luckiest team in the world. Heading into the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery, the team had moved down in the draft order only twice despite participating five times since 2010. Unfortunately, the 2020 Draft Lottery didn’t break tradition. But at least the Wizards didn’t get unlucky.
The Wizards headed into the lottery with the ninth-best odds of landing the top pick despite finishing the season with the 8th worst record. Because the lottery odds were determined by team records before the NBA restart in Orlando, the Wizards’ many bubble losses didn’t help their lottery standing.
They didn’t move up, but they didn’t drop, either. The Wizards are currently slated to pick ninth in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Washington Wizards land the ninth pick in the NBA Draft for the second year in a row.
If the Wizards stick with that pick, it will be the second consecutive year that the Wizards are the make the ninth selection on draft night. Last year, the Wizards fell from sixth to ninth in the lottery but wound up with a solid selection in Rui Hachimura, anyways.
However, the Wizards may not be sticking with the ninth pick. After the draft order was revealed, Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard admitted that the Wizards are willing to package their ninth and 37th picks in order to move up in the draft. That alone probably won’t be enough, so expect to say goodbye to (at least) one of the young prospects if that happens.
GM Tommy Sheppard mentions possibly trading up, maybe packaging the 9th and 37th picks they have this year.
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) August 21, 2020
Even if they don’t move up, though, Sheppard and company are ready. The team has already talked to over 60 prospects. Sheppard thinks at least ten of them have “ninth pick” potential. So mathematically, at least two of the ten guys he’s referring to should still be available when the Wizards make their selection.
Tommy Sheppard said of the 67 prospects the Wizards have interviewed so far, 10 of them have had “ninth (pick) potential.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) August 21, 2020
And now, we wait. The 2020 NBA Draft will take place Friday, October 16. Agency will begin shortly after, on Sunday, October 18.