The 2023 NBA Draft is almost here. The Washington Wizards, who possess the no.8 pick in the draft, have not made it clear who they are leaning towards. The mock drafts are all over the place with a wide range of selections for the Wizards.
As part of their rebuild, the Washington Wizards need to prioritize superstar upside. In order to find their next franchise building block, they need to swing for the fences. There is no such thing as a sure-fire draft pick, especially outside the very top of the draft. There is a huge amount of uncertainty with each prospect, and that is by design. However, some prospects show more star potential than others, and they need to be high on the Wizards’ big board come draft day.
There is a high level of uncertainty regarding Washington’s roster for the next few seasons. Bradley Beal is already gone, and Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis are likely out as well. Who from this Wizards’ roster will actually be on the team when this year’s draft pick is in his prime is unknown. Therefore, instead of focusing on positional and stylistic fit, the Wizards need to pick the best player available.
The first three picks of the Draft will almost certainly be Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, and Brandon Miller. This top three has not changed ever since the lottery order was announced. The only uncertainty is whether Henderson or Miller will be the no. 2 pick.
Outside this top three, the draft seems wide open with endless possibilities in the rest of the top ten.
The draft seemingly starts with the no. 4 pick that belongs to the Houston Rockets. There are three more picks until it’s the Wizards’ turn: Detroit has no.5, Orlando has no.6, and Indiana has no.7.
So, the Washington Wizards are guaranteed to land one of these five players on this big board. And they should be thrilled to do so.