With the ninth pick of the 2019 draft, the Washington Wizard selected Rui Hachimura out of Gonzaga.
The junior had broken out in his third year, and the Wizards saw a high enough ceiling in the Japanese player to draft him in the lottery. Now, Hachimura will be out to prove that he is worth the high draft pick.
He joins a team that is struggling to return to relevancy in a fairly weak Eastern Conference, eager to show the league his talents.
Here are three predictions on how the youngster's first season will go.
3. Hachimura Will Start Before The All-Star Break
The Wizards are not exactly stocked with wing depth.
Last year, their starting forward spots were dominated by Jeff Green and Trevor Ariza to begin the season. Bobby Portis, Markieff Morris, Otto Porter, and Kelly Oubre Jr. all saw significant starters minutes.
All six of the players named are no longer on the team. Essentially, a starting spot is Hachimura's to take. As a three-year college player, Hachimura has more experience under his belt than most of his fellow draftees.
Expect him to be playing serious starter minutes early on in the Wizard's regular season campaign.
2. Hachimura Will Average the Third Most Points Per Game on the Wizards
This goes back to the point made above. The Wizards are seriously lacking right now in any depth.
Last year, the only real consistent offensive threats on the team were John Wall and Bradley Beal. Beal averaged a team-high 25.6 points a game, while Wall averaged 20.7 in an injury-shortened season.
The next highest scorer who is still on the roster was Jabari Parker, who averaged 15 a game. Hachimura figures to cut into Parkers playing time as the Wizards eye a rebuild and aim to develop their younger players.
Additionally, Parker only has one more year on his contract. The Wizards more than likely will not include him in their long term future. Hachimura, on the other hand, will be a heavy focus for Washington this year.
He should surpass Parker as the third-highest scorer on the team by the time the season finishes up.
1. Hachimura Disappoints from Three
Even though he is an absolute offensive terror from inside the arc, Hachimura was a career 32 percent shooter from distance in college.
In his junior season, Hachimura shot a surprising 42 percent from three. This number caught the attention of NBA teams, but it is more than likely an outlier. This percentage comes from only one three-point shot a game, and Hachimura is not a knockdown shooter. Additionally, Hachimura is a career 74 percent free throw shooter, which usually is a solid predictor of a prospects three-point ability in the league.
The best bet is that the forward tops put as an average three-point shooter. In his rookie year, Hachimura will likely struggle from range, and the best prediction is that he shoots closer to 30 percent from downtown than 40.
Overall, the talented Japanese player looks to be a solid pick for a rebuilding Wizards squad.
Hopefully, he can give the hapless franchise a badly needed boost and provide some energy and excitement on the court.
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