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.
Steven Adams, no.12 pick, 2013 NBA Draft
This draft is usually remembered by who was selected three picks after Adams; a player named Giannis Antetokounmpo from Greece. One could criticize any of the fourteen teams that passed up on Greek Freak, especially considering that it is one of the weakest draft classes in recent memory. However, if you look at any pick after no. 10, one could also easily argue that Steven Adams is the best selection on the board until you get to Rudy Gobert at no. 27.
Adams was a 19-year-old center from New Zealand with very limited offensive ability. Yet, he immediately became a key contributor for the Thunder, playing significant minutes in the playoffs as a rookie while OKC made their way to the conference finals. He took over the starting center position in his sophomore year and never gave it up. He continues to be a starting-caliber center in the league, ten years after being drafted.
Adams is still one of the most durable big men in the league. He is consistent, a great leader, and a fantastic team player who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work. He is a beloved player around the league and is the type of high-character player every team including the Wizards should be looking to bring in with the draft.
Domantas Sabonis, no.11 pick, 2016 NBA Draft
Sabonis is technically not a Thunder pick, but he was acquired by trade on draft night. He was brought in with Victor Oladipo in exchange for Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic.
During Dawkins’ time with the team, the OKC Thunder was not hesitant to engage in draft day talks. Sam Presti is known to be one of the most active general managers, always looking for value in the margins. They are famously not scared to pull off big moves or trade away their players if they receive good offers for them.
And boy, were they right about Sabonis. The Lithuanian big man has blossomed into one of the most productive centers in the league. One of the best post players and best passers in his position, Sabonis already made three All-Star teams and has one All-NBA selection. Just like Adams, he is known to be a hard-working player and a great teammate around the league.
The most important aspect of this pick for the Thunder was how it opened the path for them to bring in a second superstar next to Russell Westbrook. Only a year after being drafted, Sabonis was traded to the Indiana Pacers along with Oladipo in exchange for Paul George. This sequence of moves is the perfect encapsulation of great management under Presti and Dawkins, which the Wizards would be lucky to have replicated in Washington.
Jalen Williams, no. 12 pick, 2022 NBA Draft
J-Dub is the latest name on the long list of draft selections in late lottery that OKC absolutely nailed. After three years in Santa Clara, Williams was not even projected to be a lottery pick on draft day. Yet, the Thunder reached for Williams with the 12th pick, and boy, did he deliver.
Williams was the second-best rookie last season after the no.1 overall pick, Paolo Banchero. He was the second-best player on the Thunder team as well, averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He was one of the leading factors as to why the Thunder was one of the biggest surprise teams in the NBA, unexpectedly making the play-in tournament.
Williams is not only a wonderful pick-and-roll operator and scorer, but he is also a very good defender for his age. He was perhaps the best two-way rookie and was a unanimous selection on the All-Rookie First Team. Just imagine how different the Wizards’ outlook would be if they had drafted Williams over Johnny Davis with the no. 10 pick.
That is the difference drafting makes. It can make or break your franchise. If Dawkins, along with Winger and Travis Schlenk bring the same level of drafting ability they have shown elsewhere, things are about to start looking up in Washington.