When the Atlanta Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, it appeared as if Alex Sarr was going to be locked in to the Washington Wizards at No. 2. Sure enough, the Wizards selected Alex Sarr with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Following the Wizards selection, Washington Mystics rookie center Aaliyah Edwards took to social media to welcome Sarr to D.C.

In a post on social media, Edwards congratulated Sarr saying, “Welcome to DC, rook!” Sarr to the Wizards at No. 2 was gaining momentum as he reportedly refused to workout for the Hawks. Edwards was drafted just outside the lottery in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Mystics with the No. 5 overall pick. So far, she has been one of the league's top rookies despite the Mystics poor record.

Sarr joins the Wizards having played last season for the Perth Wildcats in Australia's NBL. Prior to that, he had played with Overtime Elite from 2021-2023. Judging from both the Hawks and Wizards current rosters, there appears to be more of a pathway towards immediate minutes and role for Sarr with the Wizards.

Wizards offseason gets underway

Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (8) dribbles while Boston Celtics guard JD Davison (20) defends during the first half at TD Garden.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the 2024 NBA Draft, the Wizards kickstarted their offseason by trading Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brodgdon, the No. 14 pick in the NBA Draft and future draft picks. The No. 14 pick became Carlton ‘Bub' Carrington from Pittsburgh.

When it comes to NBA Free Agency, the Wizards don't have much to worry about save for the pending unrestricted free agency of Tyus Jones. Jones may or may not be in the Wizards future plans. His name had come up in trade rumors back during the NBA Trade Deadline.

With Avdija gone, a player who was thought to be part of the Wizards future core, it appears as if their squad for the future now includes Alex Sarr and fellow Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly. Brogdon, who was acquired in the Avdija trade, is a likely candidate to get rerouted in a trade to a different team.

Last season, the Wizards missed out on the NBA playoffs for the third consecutive season. The last time they made the playoffs was during the 2020-21 season when they lost in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers in five games. The Wizards hired Brian Keefe as their new head coach after Keefe took over as interim last season after the team fired Wes Unseld Jr.