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After one of the hottest stretches in the first few games of the season, the Washington Wizards have been surrounded by negativity through internal turmoil, subpar performances, and inevitable injuries. Franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal opted to have surgery on his wrist last February, while coach Wes Unseld Jr. has been having trouble searching for the best lineup combinations with numerous role players being in and out of the lineup.
Due to the struggles of Washington, the front office decided to swing a few deals before the trade deadline by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Ish Smith but also letting go of guys like Spencer Dinwiddie and Montrezl Harrell. For this campaign, it has not really affected their record, but the hope is for them to benefit long term from these trades. Additionally, another aspect they must keep their eyes on is the upcoming June 23rd NBA Draft. Here are 3 players the Wizards should target.
TyTy Washington Jr.
After relinquishing Dinwiddie's spot, the point guard depth of the Wizards is severely depleted with Smith and Raul Neto leading the charge. Washington will select a third lottery pick in the last four years, therefore adding a Kentucky facilitator in TyTy Washington Jr. would be a perfect pairing with Beal in the Wizards backcourt. Washington Jr.'s ability to maneuver as a scorer and orchestrator around Beal would be an edge for the squad.
After Kentucky's loss to Saint Peter's, it seems ironic to lobby for an individual like Washington Jr., but it was just an off-night for him all around. His stock may plummet a bit, but his ability to have a methodical approach and tremendous shooting accuracy gives him a huge opportunity to find his niche instantly. The selflessness would fit smoothly with the Wizards as he will be around scorers in Beal, Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma.
For the key cogs of one of the favorites of winning the NCAA March Madness, Arizona is parading a fantastic wing in Bennedict Mathurin. He opted to return for another season in Arizona, and he has proven that his development and growth have been vastly evident. The athleticism and versatility of a wing like Mathurin is eye-popping, so the contrast of playing alongside Washington's wings is incredible.
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He brings something different in his arsenal, but it is not just all about offensive for this young stud. As he continues maturing in the NBA, he will realize that his superior athleticism could be utilized defensively as well. Moreover, his shooting prowess also gives him another facet of his skillset which opens up the driving lane for him as he is shooting close to 40% from long distance this year. The Wizards could benefit.
Despite Iowa's loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Keegan Murray's performance in the previous Big 10 games leading up to March Madness cemented his case as a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Wizards do have a plethora of forwards in the fold, but none of them have a multi-faceted skillset who could flourish at the three or four position and shoot it like Murray.
Even at the fifth seed in the Midwest Region, analysts had them as a school who could upset any of the top two seeds because of the spectacular play of Murray. There has been a slew of individuals who excel in college basketball, but Murray's offensive and defensive versatility and eagerness to succeed at the highest level are what would separate him from the pack.
It is another dreadful season for Wizards fans, but the foundation and building blocks for the future seem optimistic for DC. The potential of their young core is a positive sign for Washington, but Unseld Jr. still has the star power of Beal, Porzingis, and Kuzma along with the mix of reliable role players on the roster.
