After years of feeling heartbreak at the NBA Draft Lottery, the Washington Wizards had a victorious moment on Sunday when they won the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
In what is considered one of the deepest prospect classes of the 21st century, the Wizards have a few options at the top of the board that they can choose from as they look to compete in the Eastern Conference as early as next season, with Trae Young, Alex Sarr, and Anthony Davis already on the roster.
Here is my instant mock draft of the 14 lottery teams following Sunday’s results.
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1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa (BYU)
The Wizards have a few different paths to take on draft night, but I think they go with arguably the safest option: Dybansta.
He’s going to score a lot of points in the NBA, has a ceiling to be a top-10 player in the league, and will instantly ignite a dormant fanbase that has been comotoase for over a decade.
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson (Kansas)
Although Peterson has slipped from his pedestal of the No. 1 prospect in this class that he held for a majority of the year, he still is seen by many pundits as the freshman with the highest ceiling.
The Jazz did everything in their power to get a franchise-changing player in this draft, and if Peterson develops into what he could be, then they’ll have succeeded.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer (Duke)
The Grizzlies have always been at their best when they adopt the identity that once made them a feared franchise: gritty, hardworking, a tireless engine that never quits.
Boozer is the perfect heir to the Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and the other Grizzlies who personified that mentality.
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
The Bulls need some juice to liven up their fanbase, and Wilson is the type of player who will deliver highlight-reel plays every night while contributing to winning basketball.
If he hits his ceiling, then he’s a Scottie Barnes that can help the Bulls get back into the postseason. At his worst, he’ll at least bring some excitement and energy.
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
The Clippers are celebrating that they got this pick from the Indiana Pacers, and they’ll have their pick of what freshman guard they want with the fifth selection if everything goes as planned.
Although other guards might be bigger or fit the modern NBA better, Acuff Jr. is going to score in the pros. He has an elite offensive arsenal, and the Clippers, having traded their future away to the Oklahoma City Thunder, won’t have a chance to draft a player like him moving forward.
- 6. Brooklyn Nets: Keaton Wagler (Illinois)
- 7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings (Houston)
- 8. Atlanta Hawks: Mikel Brown (Louisville)
- 9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries (Arizona)
- 10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament (Tennessee)
- 11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan)
- 12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers)
- 13. Miami Heat: Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama)
- 14. Charlotte Hornets: Aday Mara (Michigan)