2011 Wizards Draft Preview
Tomorrow night, the Wizards will be looking to improve on there 23-59 mark, last year, by drafting some top talent from the college ranks. The Wiz have the 6th, 18th and 34th picks in this year's draft, with two of those picks coming in the first round. Problem is that this year's draft class is lacking in talent outside of the top 3 picks. Besides last year's draft, the Wiz seem to always get screwed over by a bad talent draft when they have good picks set up. Regardless, it is what it is and Ernie Grunfeld will have to make do with what there is. My top needs, for the Wizards, are a big man and a defensive player. Let's start off with the sixth round pick.
In any other draft the sixth pick would be great, but this year has less talent. The rumor mill is that the Minnesota Timberwolves are shopping around there second pick in the draft. The Wiz have Javale McGee that they could possibly trade to Minnesota, but the the T'wolves already have a big man in Kevin Love. If the T'wolves just want to trade picks with someone the Wiz should jump on this right away as they can get forward, Derrick Williams, from Arizona. Williams averaged 19.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg (rebound per game). The Wiz are in need of a four guy and Williams will fit this role perfectly and get Andre Blatche out of the starting lineup. Williams was able to defeat the Duke Blue Devils in the elite eight this past season. If the Wiz stay with the sixth pick, then they should go with Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State. Leonard averaged 15.2 ppg and 10.7 rpg. Leonard can also play the three and or four position. Derrick Williams has more size and raw talent than Leonard, but Leonard is a very good pick at the six spot.With the 18th pick, the Wiz can go in a bunch of directions. They can go with a European player or stick to a college prospect. It's always tough to judge Euro players as not a lot of film is seen on these guys and the Euro game is completely different from the college and NBA game, so guys from across the pond can be risk, but once again not a lot of talent in this draft so why not go Euro. Players I see the Wiz taking here include, center, Donatas Motiejunas from Lithuania, Marcus Morris from Kansas, and maybe sticking with the hometown boy Jordan Williams from the University of Maryland. Picking Williams at the 18th spot mabye a little high, but hey why not with the lack of star talent in this draft class. If the Wiz want to, they can most likely wait till the second round to draft Williams. Another possible hometown pick could be Chris Wright from Georgetown. My guess is that they can see Wright complimenting John Wall by placing Wright at the two spot.
The Wiz maybe set back a few seasons by this year's draft and it will not be Ernie Grunfeld's fault. It's just bad luck that the Wiz have so many picks in a week draft class. I feel that the Wiz are headed in the right direction, but more patience will be required.
