The Washington Wizards should just say no — to trades.
With the sixth and 18th overall selections in Thursday’s NBA Draft, the Wizards can get two contributors for a team than needs six. Maybe neither pick will become a superstar, but they should be two good players who can help a listless franchise at least rediscover mediocrity.
It would be easy for Washington to package the two picks plus a player (who cares who it is outside John Wall) for Minnesota’s second pick — and likely Arizona forward Derrick Williams. They might even work a deal for Cleveland’s No. 4 to get Kentucky forward Enes Kanter. However, neither player is polished enough to merit giving up two picks.
Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld, who could claim there wasn’t a good player available even if he had the second overall pick, needs to get this one right. Owner Ted Leonsis has already been generous in keeping Grunfeld, whose draft record has been spotty. Wall doesn’t count; as last year’s No. 1 pick, everyone would have picked him.
Former draft picks JaVale McGee, Nick Young and Andray Blatche are not players who win championships. Oleksiy Pecherov isn’t even in the league anymore. Indeed, the team’s draft record has been spotty for a generation. Wall was the first marquee player Washington drafted since it became the Wizards in 1997. The last truly great player taken by the franchise was Wes Unseld in 1968 — when it was the Baltimore Bullets.
But there’s hope Washington can find two starters. Productive sixth picks in the past 12 years include Wally Szczerbiak (1999), Brandon Roy (2006) and Danilo Gallinari (2008).
The Wizards need a big man, so the sixth pick could be forwards Jan Vesely or Tristan Thompson. Vesely is a 6-foot-11 European who scores despite bricking enough free throws to build another Great Wall of China. Thompson is a defensive player. The Wizards need Vesely much more but can use either.
The 18th pick is still early enough to find someone like Joe Dumars (1985), Mark Jackson (1987), Tracy Murray (1992) and J.R. Smith (2004). McGee also was an 18th choice.
Washington could select Lithuanian 7-footer Donatas Motiejunas, Southern Cal forward Nikola Vucevic or forward Bismack Biyombo from Congo. International players haven’t fared well for the Wizards, so potentially using both picks on them is scary. Still, they’re the best big men available.
The expected NBA lockout beginning July 1 might factor in. If international players can’t work out with the team during the summer, their learning curve will be reduced. Maybe Washington will go for an American alternative who needs less acclimation.
Ultimately, Vesely is the smart choice for Washington. He’ll provide needed scoring help. Keeping both first-rounders is an even smarter choice even if the second one bombs — as is Grunfeld’s history.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
