The Washington Wizards took Alex Sarr with the number two overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and are ecstatic about his future. The 19-year-old played professionally in Australia last season and has immense upside on both ends. Head coach Brian Keefe has a plan to develop their young talent, and the franchise thinks Sarr can become a star.
The 2024 draft class has been criticized for its lack of top-end talent. There will be All-Stars and impactful players, but there was little consensus on who. Some would even classify this as one of the worst recent classes, and the Wizards may have just selected the highest pick of their rebuild in it.
ESPN polled 18 NBA personnel split between coaches, executives, and scouts for a predictions piece (subscription required). They were asked about who wins Rookie of the Year and the best player in this draft class. Despite Sarr being the number two pick, he got minimal love in this poll.
Alex Sarr gets some bulletin board material from ESPN survey
The Wizards want to put Sarr in different positions and explore his skill set in year one. He figures to get plenty of minutes, but he received just two of 18 votes in the prediction for Rookie of the Year. Zach Edey led the way with eight, and Reed Sheppard’s five were second. Sarr finished third and was one of six rookies to receive votes.
Fans saw Sarr’s offensive struggles in summer league. He may not produce a monster stat line in year one. The seven-footer will need time to develop his game against the best players in the world. There will be struggles, especially early on. Expect Sarr to come on as the season progresses, and his immense talent may shock people.
The number two overall pick has a high ceiling, but nobody voted him as the best player from this class in five years. Sarr’s new teammate Bub Carrington got one vote. Reed Sheppard led the way with eight and Stephon Castle finished second.
The Wizards want to make Sarr a three-level scorer, and his defense is already strong. The teenager can protect the rim and switch onto the perimeter. He will wreak havoc on the defensive end if he reaches his ceiling. Can he become a consistent shooter and marquee scorer? Those are possible but the odds seem unlikely. The franchise likes him, and Sarr has tons of developing to do. Do not rule it out.
Alex Sarr has plenty of work to do, which starts during training camp. He could prove everyone wrong and be the best player in the 2024 draft class. The potential exists, and it is on the seven-footer to make it a reality.