Pre-Draft Outlook
After a surprising 10-3 start to the season, the Wizards came back to earth and finished eight games out of the Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference, missing the playoffs for the third time in the last four years and finishing in the bottom 10 on both ends of the floor. They shook things up at the deadline, trading for Kristaps Porzingis, who had a disappointing 2 1/2 years in Dallas. There’s potential in a duo of Porzingis and Bradley Beal, though the latter can decline his player option and become a free agent on July 1. And most critical could be the development of the Wizards’ last three first-round picks.
A Stat That Matters
.387 — The Wizards were 25-15 (.625, third best) in games that were within five points in the last five minutes and 10-32 (.238, fifth worst) otherwise. That was the third biggest such differential (.387) in the 26 seasons for which we have clutch data.
The Way To Go
The Wizards need a starting point guard, but shouldn’t be too focused on positional needs with the No. 10 pick. There’s no guarantee that the Beal-Porzingis tandem is going to work (the big man still has some questions to answer about his ability to score efficiently) and the Wiz should also have their eyes on 3-5 years down the road. With the jury still out on Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert, it’s a big summer for all three.
Under Contract
G: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
G: Jordan Schakel
G: Ish Smith
F: Deni Avdija
F: Rui Hachimura
F: Corey Kispert
F: Kyle Kuzma
F: Isaiah Todd
F/C: Vernon Carey Jr.
F/C: Daniel Gafford
F/C: Kristaps Porzingis
Free Agents
G: Bradley Beal (player option)
G: Raul Neto (unrestricted)
G: Tomas Satoransky (unrestricted)
G: Cassius Winston (two-way)
F: Anthony Gill (restricted)
C/F: Thomas Bryant (unrestricted)
> 2022 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
Corey Kispert (15), Isaiah Todd (31)*
* = Acquired via trade
— John Schuhmann