NBA Draft: 2 weaknesses that the Washington Wizards must address on draft night

The Washington Wizards must address wing position/perimeter defense

New draft, same story. The Wizards need a wing defender, and they need one bad. It’s not the first time the Wizards have entered the draft needing a wing defender, either. It was the case in 2018 when they drafted Troy Brown Jr. It was the case in 2019 when they drafted Rui Hachimura. And it was the case in 2020 when they drafted Deni Avdija. Still, the Wizards are searching for their perimeter stopper.

There’s no better indicator of just how badly the Wizards need a wing than the lineups they used in the playoffs vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. Throughout the five-game series, the Wizards only really used one wing player: Davis Bertans. Otherwise, they were running with three-guard lineups, which were routinely exposed by the likes of Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons. Even in the play-in games, Boston’s Jayson Tatum made the Wizards pay for their wing deficiency and exploded for 50-points as the Celtics routed the Wizards.

The Wizards won’t stop anyone if they don’t add some resistance on the perimeter. New head coach Wes Unseld Jr., who was responsible for some great defenses in Denver, should help the Wizards improve on the defensive end, regardless. But to make the Wizards into a defensive force, he’ll need the right personnel, as well.

With the 15th pick in the draft, the Wizards should consider Moses Moodey of Arkansas and Herbert Jones of Alabama as potential picks that could solidify their defensive stature.