The Washington Wizards just endured their worst season in franchise history, but at the end of it, they snagged the second-overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft as a consolation prize.
With Bilal Coulibaly and Deni Avdija already in place, the Wizards will have a chance to add another young star to build with moving forward. But why stay at pick No. 2?
This year’s draft doesn’t have a guaranteed superstar at the top, so trading back and gaining future assets in the process could be a smart idea for Washington.
Here are five players the Wizards should target by trading back in the NBA Draft.
5 NBA Draft prospects Wizards should trade down from No. 2 pick for
1. Tidjane Salaun, France
One of the more raw prospects in the class, France’s Tidjane Salaun has a ton of upside. He’s a great defender already and has the build and skill set to continue that trend at the NBA level.
Plus, he’s improved his three-point shot this year, leaving some hope that he can turn himself into a more effective offensive player. If there’s any team that can afford to take on a project, it’s the Wizards, and a frontcourt of Coulibaly and Salaun would be very, very fun.
2. Donovan Clingan, UConn
Perhaps it would be worth it for the Wizards to just take Donovan Clingan with the second pick in the draft, but if the team they are trading back with doesn’t want him (maybe the San Antonio Spurs at pick No. 4), then he’d be a perfect target.
Grabbing a 7-foot-4 behemoth at pick No. 4 or later would be an absolute steal for a Wizards team that desperately needs defense and center play.
3. Cody Williams, Colorado
The brother of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams, Cody Williams possesses a similar all-around feel for the game. He’s an impressive ball handler, especially for his size, and he has the potential to be great defensively.
Williams needs to improve his three-point shooting, but he’s the exact type of versatile wing that the Wizards should want on their roster next to Coulibaly.
4. Nikola Topic, Serbia
If the Wizards want to solidify their point guard position and get great value in the draft, look no further than Nikola Topic. An ACL injury has him sliding down draft boards, but his potential is still through the roof.
At his size, he’s one of the most intriguing playmakers in this draft and could completely transform the Wizards’ offense if he reaches his peak. They should absolutely be willing to take a chance on him.
5. Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh
Throughout the pre-draft process, Bub Carrington has skyrocketed up draft boards. He’s one of the youngest players in this year’s class and has the potential to be a special offensive player.
Carrington is an elite shot-creator, scorer, and playmaker, and despite being a bit undersized, he could lead Washington’s offense if given the chance. If there’s a player to take a leap of faith with this year, it’s probably Carrington.