Ranking top 5 Wizards draft targets to be their franchise centerpiece

Here are the top five players the Washington Wizards should target in the 2024 NBA Draft to be their franchise centerpiece.
Washington Wizards, NBA Draft, Reed Sheppard, Zacharie Risacher, Matas Buzelis, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan
Washington Wizards, NBA Draft, Reed Sheppard, Zacharie Risacher, Matas Buzelis, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan / Andy Lyons/GettyImages
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2. Alex Sarr

For a long, long time, most mock drafts had the Atlanta Hawks picking Frenchman Alex Sarr with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

However, as time has gone on and the draft has inched closer and closer, some mocks have Zacharie Risacher going first. Anybody could end up getting picked first overall.

So, if Sarr ends up falling to pick two, he would be a great selection for the Washington Wizards to consider for a bunch of reasons, as he’s a great talent on both ends of the court.

At 6-foot-11 (and very nearly seven-foot), Sarr’s defensive presence, much like UConn big man Donovan Clingan, would completely change the Wizards’ look on that end, though in very different ways.

Where Clingan is an elite interior presence, Sarr has the potential to be an extremely versatile defender at the big man spot, guarding multiple positions all over the floor.

In addition, he’s a solid finisher around the rim, and his athleticism allows him to get inside consistently, which would be a valuable skill.

While his shot needs some work, he has the makings of an extremely talented defender, and his offensive game has some clear upside, too. It would be an obvious pick for Washington to take him.