All eyes are on the Washington Wizards as the NBA Draft looms less than a week away.
The Dallas Mavericks are taking Cooper Flagg with the top pick barring another questionable decision from Nico Harrison.
Dylan Harper will be the No. 2 overall pick, whether the team to select him is the San Antonio Spurs or a dark horse team that hasn't been linked to the selection yet.
The draft unofficially begins at pick No. 3 when the Philadelphia 76ers get on the clock.
Philadelphia has been rumored to be seriously considering a trade back if a deal presents itself that makes sense for the Sixers situation.
One team in particular that has been linked to the trade conversation around the 76ers pick is none other than the Wizards.
Washington went from being tied with the Utah Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets for the highest-odds to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery in May. Instead, the Wiz dropped all the way out of the top five as a whole.
This left the Wizards with a choice. Stand pat at No. 6 and select the best player available OR get aggressive and make a bold trade into the top five or potentially the top three to take the player of their choice.
The two targets that have been mentioned as a prime target for a Wizards trade up is Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe.
That said, which player makes the most sense for Washington to trade up for? Let's discuss.
Why the Wizards should draft Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey's recent decision to cancel his lone draft visit to Philadelphia left many scratching their head.
The Rutgers' star is talented and he has the potential to be a superstar in the NBA. Despite that, he's not the same type of "can't miss" prospect that Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper are viewed at.
Mix that with the fact that his off-the-court antics before the draft even begins is rubbing teams the wrong way, it's hard to vouch for Washington to make a move to land Bailey...but I will.
As mentioned above, Bailey has the potential to become a star. Had the Wizards earned the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, Ace Bailey would have almost certainly been the player the fanbase would have gravitated towards.
Washington needs to take a swing, regardless of the risks that come with it. The possibility to turn a nightmare scenario (falling out of the top five) into drafting a player the Wizards could build around if he pans out is worth the swing.
Then again, that leads us to VJ Edgecombe, who is rising up team's big boards quickly.
Why the Wizards should draft VJ Edgecombe
Coming away from the NBA Combine, VJ Edgecombe may have been the biggest winner of all prospects who participated.
The Baylor guard's work ethic couldn't be talked about enough. Pairing that with the fact he's one of the most talented prospects in this draft makes him an incredibly intriguing prospect to draft.
Edgecombe is an athletic freak and his offensive potential and two-way ability could make him a star at the next level.
However, there's a difference between a star and superstar, which leads us to Bailey vs. Edgecombe.
Edgecombe has star potential, but the consensus around Bailey is that he has superstar potential.
Bailey is without a doubt the riskier pick. Edgecombe is the safe bet with the same potential to develop into a star, but the idea that Bailey could develop into a superstar with his tough shotmaking ability and offensive versatility, it's hard to not take a swing, especially for a team in the Wizards position.