The Washington Wizards had a very specific decision to make on draft night when they were sitting at pick number 21. And with the Miami Heat selecting Kasparas Jakucionis one spot ahead of them, it looked like the board might not fall in Washington’s favor. But the Wizards stuck to their plan, made the pick they needed to make, and now sit in a position where it looks like they just avoided a potentially messy situation.
Will Riley still has a ways to go, but the early returns are promising. The 19-year-old wing has the tools, size, and mental approach to be the type of player who grows into a cornerstone piece over the next few years. That is ultimately the hope for Washington. But just as important is the fact that they did not end up reaching for a player who might not be ready for the NBA game right now.
Kasparas Jakucionis could still turn into a solid player. There is no reason to completely write him off after one Summer League stint. But even the most generous evaluation would admit he looked overwhelmed in Las Vegas. His feel for the game was inconsistent, his decision-making under pressure was shaky, and he failed to show some of the poise that led Miami to take him in the top 20.
Will Riley was a safer pick than Jakucoinis
That is not to say Washington had no interest. In fact, league chatter around the draft suggested that Jakucionis was very much in the mix if he had fallen to No. 21. If the Heat had taken someone else, it is entirely possible that the Wizards would have ended up in a different situation right now, one with more immediate questions than answers.
Instead, they are left with a player in Riley who looked confident and aggressive during his first taste of Summer League competition. His physical tools stand out, and while he is still adjusting to the speed of the NBA game, he already showed flashes of what makes him such a high-upside pick.
Nobody is saying the Wizards nailed the draft just yet, but they clearly avoided the worst-case scenario. There is something to be said for letting the board come to you, and not forcing a pick based on hype or reputation. That is exactly what Washington did.
In a league where one draft pick can swing a rebuild, the Wizards might have quietly avoided something that could have put them behind the eight ball.