The Washington Wizards’ two decades of miserable luck extended to the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday when the league’s second-worst team received the fifth pick. It’s like waiting to dance with Kate Moss and getting Amy Winehouse.
Forget adding Blake Griffin to the frontcourt or Ricky Rubio at point guard. Jordan Hill or Hasheem Thabeet could have filled a big man need, but they’ll also be gone.
The Wiz can’t get an impact player with the fifth pick, which is truly amazing. The fifth choice in the NFL is a franchise player, but the NBA can’t find five great ones despite drafting anywhere on the planet. This draft is thinner than Lindsay Lohan.
Washington could try for another project, but it already has a bench filled with those. The Wiz need someone ready-made and unless they’re willing to shift Gilbert Arenas to shooting guard — which isn’t a bad idea given it would be less stressful on the knee — then the only remaining option is swapping the pick for a veteran forward.
The Wiz are itching to ditch center Etan Thomas and other dead wood on the bench. The question is whether Antawn Jamison needs to be included. He’s turning 33 soon and would be a valuable sixth man.
Washington needs a veteran big man because that’s the latest trend to winning the title. With some health and a little luck the Wiz can contend over the next few years before Caron Butler, 29, and Arenas, 27, wear out.
The fifth pick and a player could jar someone loose. The Internet chat rooms want Chris Bosh. Yeah, and I want my hair back. Not going to happen. That would be awesome, though. My hair or Bosh.
Washington might trade for Detroit’s Richard Hamilton. That would be ironic given he was Washington’s seventh overall pick in 1999 before being traded three years later for Jerry Stackhouse. Hamilton has been a solid pro and fits that early-30s vet with playoff experience criteria. Fans would probably welcome him back.
The Los Angeles Clippers have a frontcourt surplus given their first overall selection nets Griffin. Maybe Marcus Camby would be available, though trading for a 35-year-old is a real short-term move.
Washington needs something, anything, from this pick aside another project. If that means trading it, then call Monty Hall and make a deal. Hopefully, door No. 2 isn’t a trap door.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
