With the 18th pick in tonight’s NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards will select …
Oh, this one is tough. The Wiz could do anything from trading up or down to packaging last year’s mid-first rounder Nick Young and several picks to get into the top five to take Italy’s Danilo Gallinari. Until Washington’s pick is announced, anything is possible.
About the only doubtful scenario is taking Georgetown center Roy Hibbert. The Wiz could certainly use a big man for depth and hometown players sell tickets. However, Verizon Center is mostly filled already so there’s no reason to repeat the 2002-03 drafts of Maryland stars Juan Dixon and Steve Blake.
The Wiz will ultimately choose a power forward or center, probably late in the first round after trading down to get another second-rounder. Dropping a few spots could bring Serbia’s Nikola Pekovic or N.C. State’s J.J. Hickson.
So for the record, the Wiz will draft Kansas forward Darrell Arthur if picking 18th. They’ll go Hickson if choosing late in the first round. And if Washington somehow gets into the top five, it will grab Gallinari.
There, that should cover me. It’s like stories of the late Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder allegedly picking a different horse on 18 different radio shows before the Kentucky Derby and claiming victory afterwards. But, that’s how unstable the Wizards’ draft appears.
The only sure thing tonight is Memphis guard Derrick Rose goes to Chicago first, Kansas State forward Michael Beasley follows to Miami and Southern Cal guard O.J. Mayo is third to Minnesota. Otherwise, roulette looks like easy money compared to picking a deep draft.
Locally, Hibbert looks to go after No. 20. It’s too bad the Georgetown senior was penalized by returning for another year when he might have gone as high as 12 last season after the Hoyas made the Final Four. Inconsistency cost him a few slots, but he’s a solid prospect and a better person. Insiders say the Wizards aren’t interested, but that’s a shame because Hibbert could play on my team any day.
Maryland forward James Gist could be a late second-rounder. He tests well, but Gist never developed into the player expected when delivering electric moments as a freshman. Again, consistency was the problem. Gist was awesome in short stretches and has the big body, but rarely commanded the team or the game. He’d be a solid European league player, but doubtful on the NBA level. Given former Terps star Terence Morris recently signed a reported three-year, $7 million deal abroad, it’s not a bad living.
Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing Jr. wants to be chosen off his ability instead of his name. Let’s be honest — Ewing’s a nice prospect but the only reason he might be chosen is his name after averaging 6.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game last season. Virginia’s Sean Singletary is also doubtful to make the jump, despite a standout career with the Cavaliers.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
