Things Can Only go up From Here
We’re going to be okay, Wizards fans.
The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery was on May 17, and the Washington Wizards left with the 10th pick, to no one’s surprise. Fans may have hoped for some wizardry in the lottery, but that went to the Orlando Magic as they won the first pick.
Graphic from NBA.com/Wizards
Sincere congratulations to Orlando, and to the teams that finished with the first five picks in the draft. The best part of the NBA is when teams develop chemistry and incorporate new talent, and that can’t happen without the NBA Draft. And the NBA Draft can’t happen without the Draft Lottery.
The NBA Draft is June 23. The Wizards have a little less than a month to decide on a draft pick, someone who can live up to the standard of their rising stars, the young core who joined the team from draft picks in and below the top 10.
No pressure, but potential draft picks are in a class with a developing, pretty solid young core.
Rui Hachimura, the ninth pick in the 2019 NBA draft. Since he was drafted, Hachimura has averaged 28.5 career minutes, 13.0 career points, and maintained a 47.7 percent field goal rate. Deni Avdija, another ninth pick, was drafted in 2020. Avdija has averaged 23.8 career minutes, 7.6 points, and a 42.6 percent field goal rate. A rookie last season, Corey Kispert was the 15th pick in the NBA draft and has averaged 23.4 career minutes, 8.2 points, and maintained a 45.5 percent field goal rate.
Kispert’s field goal percentage is closest to Bradley Beal, whose season ended in February due to a wrist injury. Beal is reportedly looking to resign with Washington and is continuing to rehabilitate his wrist until the start of the next season. Kispert and Beal are going to be a great combination once they start playing together, be it from three, from home, or elsewhere.
Graphic from @WashWizards on Twitter
Avdija and Hachimura might not have superstar stats compared to Beal, who has averaged 34.8 career minutes, 22.1 career points, and maintained a 45.6 percent field goal rate, but they’re 24 and 21 years old respectively and have longevity in their NBA careers.
Look at what these back-to-back ninth picks can do when they work together? The 2022-23 season is going to have more Deni and Rui, more cherry blossoms, and more Bradley Beal, among other things to look forward to.
As the draft gets closer, I’ll post some of my predictions for who could join the DC Family, but I know this right now:
We have a lot of promise, Wizards fans, and we’re going to be just fine.
