The Washington Wizards finally have their general manager. According to reports, the Wizards are bringing in OKC executive Will Dawkins to work under new president Michael Winger as the general manager.
Dawkins has worked with the Oklahoma City Thunder in a variety of front-office positions since 2009, including as a video coordinator, scout, and vice president of basketball operations. At Thunder, he was working directly with Sam Presti, one of the most respected general managers in the NBA. He also overlapped with Michael Winger between 2010 and 2017. The fact that the two worked together for seven years suggests a seamless transition to the new front office hierarchy.
Perhaps the biggest area of expertise Dawkins will be involved in Washington is the draft. As the leading scout for the Thunder for a long time, Dawkins’ track record speaks for itself. Considering the Wizards’ struggles in nailing their lottery picks in recent years, they could use every bit of scouting experience and eye for talent that Dawkins will be bringing.
Some of the best draft steals that Dawkins has been a part of came in the late lottery. This is especially significant since the Wizards famously always draft in the bottom half of the lottery, including this year with the no.8 pick. Finding value in that range in the draft is key to sustained success in the NBA. Let’s take a look at some of the best picks Dawkins had a hand in selecting.