The 2023 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 22, as both rounds are wrapped up in one night. As it approaches, TGH will be taking a quick look some teams’ draft strategies, and shedding some light on what direction they will go with their picks.. Here is the Washington Wizards NBA Draft profile for 2023.
Summary
Washington was left out of the postseason for the second consecutive season, following a 35-47 season. They finished third in the southeast division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. Tommy Sheppard, former general manager and president of basketball operations, was ousted as a result of this underwhelming season
2023 Draft Picks
The Wizards have three picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
First Round (one pick):
- Pick #8
Second Round (two picks):
- Pick #42
- Pick #59
Team Needs
- Three-point shooting
- Athleticism/defense at wing
Projected Targets
Pick #8: Ausar Thompson, SG/SF, Overtime Elite
With the way the draft buzz is trending, the Wizards are likely going to miss out on some of the premiere three-point shooters with other upsides. But Ausar Thompson is one hell of a consolation prize if he trickles down to them. Plus, they can get some knock-down shooting later on.
Thompson is a human highlight reel out of the Overtime Elite that can play the two or the three right away in the NBA. His finishing around the rim is already pretty polished, but his spot-up shooting needs some work. But with his defensive capabilities and overall athleticism, this is a project worth taking on.
Pick #42: Marcus Sasser, G, Houston
Sasser is a relatively small player that can get bullied around the rim early, but has the potential to be as bouncy and athletic as someone like a Russell Westbrook or Derrick Rose. He won’t be as turnover prone early in his career due to his advanced ball-handling skills. Plus, the shooting potential is absolutely there for a player his size.
Pick #59: Adam Flagler, G, Baylor
Flagler averaged 15.6 points per game at Baylor last year, shooting 40 percent on 6.3 three-point field goal attempts per game. In fact, he never averaged less than over 38.6 percent on three-pointers in his college career. He could be a one-trick pony, but could also be a volume scorer off of the bench for a team that struggles to hit threes.
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