The Washington Wizards finished with their worst record in franchise history this year, but as a reward, they won the second pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, there is no Victor Wembanyama in this year’s draft. According to most experts, there isn’t even a generational talent atop the board. Instead, teams will have to pick and pray.
That leaves the Wizards with the difficult decision of who to select in the draft and who to avoid. And while there may not be a franchise superstar in the draft at first glance, teams can never say never.
With that in mind, here are the top five players Washington should target in the draft in hopes of finding their new franchise centerpiece.
Top 5 draft prospects Wizards should target in 2024 NBA Draft
5. Zacharie Risacher
A ton of mock drafts have the Wizards taking Zachariw Risacher with the second pick in the draft, and some mocks even have the Atlanta Hawks picking him first overall.
And even though it feels like there are a few players the Wizards should be targeting over him with the second pick, he would still be a decent selection.
With Deni Avdija and Bilal Coulibaly already on the roster, adding a guy like Risacher, who can shoot the ball with the best of them, would definitely help space the floor.
Risacher is projected to be one of the higher-upside guys in the class, so while he may not be as great as some other options, he would still be a solid choice. If the Hawks don’t take him, Washington would be fine taking Risacher.
4. Matas Buzelis
This would be an extremely risky selection, as Matas Buzelis just wrapped up a relatively shaky season with the G League Ignite (at least in terms of his shooting stroke) that saw his draft stock go down a bit.
However, in theory, Buzelis has all the tools to be a star at the NBA level. The Washington Wizards would just have to bank on him figuring it out and reaching his full potential.
While his overall year wasn’t amazing, Buzelis still improved throughout his season with the Ignite. At his best, Buzelis can create his own shot, make plays for others, and defend at a solid enough level to get by.
Bringing in a guy with as much all-around talent as Buzelis is exactly what the Wizards should be looking to do in the draft. Their number-one priority should be to snag a guy capable of starring in Washington.
Buzelis is about to turn 20 and would be a high-upside swing for the Wizards, especially at pick two. But if they truly believe in his star potential and he pans out, it would be a genius selection.
With his intriguing mix of skills on both sides of the ball, Buzelis should be on Washington’s radar, even at pick two.
3. Donovan Clingan
The Washington Wizards should be targeting players with the most upside in this year’s draft class, and despite being a bit older than some guys, UConn big man Donovan Clingan definitely falls under that distinction.
Clingan is entering the draft fresh off of two National Championship wins with the Huskies and is one of the more NBA-ready guys in the class.
Recent reports have indicated that a bunch of teams are even interested in trading up to take Clingan, with the Memphis Grizzlies being one team mentioned.
Considering Ja Morant will be coming back, the fact that the Grizzlies are interested in Clingan should speak volumes. They want to win now, so they must believe that he’s ready to help contribute right away.
For the Wizards, bringing in Clingan would be bringing in one of the best defensive players in the class. A guy who would help them completely transform their defense.
He’s massive, a proven winner, and a guy who has risen up draft boards throughout the years. Most mocks don’t have him going in the top two, but the Wizards should absolutely have him on their radar. The 20-year-old big man would be a great choice with the second overall pick.
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.
1. Reed Sheppard
One of the most well-rounded guys available for selection in the draft, Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard should be regarded as one of the top three players in this draft class.
Sheppard’s impressive combine, which included an astounding 42-inch vertical leap, may have helped him shoot up draft boards, but he should have been in consideration for a top-three pick well before that.
Despite being a bit undersized, Sheppard has the perfect mix of offensive and defensive talent to make him an impact player on any team in the league and in any role.
Defensively, Sheppard is a pesky point-of-attack guy who can cause trouble for ball-handlers. He’s the type of player who could help transform a defensive backcourt.
Meanwhile, his offense is just as impressive. He was a knock-down shooter with the Wildcats, shooting a blazing-hot 52.1% from distance on 4.4 three-point attempts per game. Plus, he has some room to grow as a shot creator, so he could get even better.
There are some little things that Sheppard needs to improve on, but in a draft with no clear number-one pick, he has the perfect blend of future potential and NBA-ready skills. The Wizards should make him their top target, giving Deni Avdija and Bilal Coulibaly a top-notch guard to grow with.