The Washington Wizards weren’t blessed with the identical lottery luck in 2025 as they had been final 12 months, however the entrance workplace cannot afford to lament over what may have been. Relatively, they have to make the most of the No. 6 and No. 18 picks on June 25 to proceed constructing their basis of younger expertise.
That might imply standing pat, selecting gamers with each choices, or buying and selling up/down. Rutgers wing Ace Bailey and Baylor wing VJ Edgecombe, for instance, would every help Washington’s offense as explosive off-ball threats if developed correctly. Nevertheless, the Wizards would probably have to slip as much as both No. 3 or No. 4 to accumulate one among them.
With that being stated, who can be good choices for the group both at No. 6 or in a trade-down state of affairs?
Keep at No. 6: G Tre Johnson, Texas
Jordan Poole had a profession 12 months as Washington’s level guard this previous season, averaging 20.5 factors on 43.2 p.c capturing (37.8 p.c 3 PT) with 4.5 assists and three rebounds over 29.4 minutes. These can be good numbers for Johnson to attempt for at some point, however he should first hone his facilitation expertise. The 6-foot-5-inch, 190-pounder averaged 2.7 assists in 34.7 minutes for the Longhorns as a freshman, which ranked second on the group.
Johnson’s calling card is his scoring, as he has the deal with to create house and the capturing expertise to complete a wide range of seems to be, whether or not or not it’s pull-up threes in transition or fadeaway midranges. The 19-year-old’s off-ball motion additionally makes him one of many most secure picks within the lottery, as he does not fall into the favored ball-watching lure that plagues even seasoned NBA veterans.
Johnson averaged 19.9 factors on 42.7 p.c capturing (39.7 p.c 3 PT), and his clip from downtown bested Duke star Cooper Flagg (38.5 p.c), Rutgers star Dylan Harper (33.3 p.c), Bailey (34.6 p.c), and Edgecombe (34 p.c), who had been picked 1-4 in that order by NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor in Yahoo! Sports activities newest mock draft. That does not imply that the Texas native is best than these gamers, however it reveals that his long-range prowess is no less than on par, if not superior.
Johnson would match proper in with a younger Wizards core that made NBA historical past this 12 months by having three rookies exceed 100 three-pointers made in a single season. Veterans like Poole, Marcus Sensible, and Khris Middleton can be excellent gamers for him to study from as properly, if they do not get traded this summer time.
There isn’t any doubt that Johnson would fill a void as Washington’s potential level guard of the longer term, as Poole’s contract expires in 2027 and he has a better ceiling than Bub Carrington, who profiles as a possible borderline All-Star as soon as he develops. Johnson, who’s extra dynamic on the ball, may attain 24-25 factors per sport in his prime. Nevertheless, he should enhance his protection and slashing to develop into an elite participant.
As gifted an offensive participant as Tre Johnson is, his struggles to generate rim stress and create downhill separation increase authentic considerations about his potential as a real three-level scorer. Nonetheless, his improvement shoould benefiet from NBA ground spacing, including muscle, and… pic.twitter.com/rquy5K8MWG
— DraftDevotee | Quinn Fishburne (@DraftDevotee) Could 30, 2025
These weaknesses are as a consequence of Johnson’s lack of bodily energy in addition to aggressiveness in these conditions, which might spell hassle for NBA guards. Nonetheless, he’d have loads of time and reps to get higher in these areas with Washington, and he is a no brainer decide if he falls to No. 6.
Keep at No. 6: G Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
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Fears can be the long-term model of Poole with the Wizards. The 18-year-old employs related herky-jerky dribbling, fast acceleration, and change-of-speed tips that the previous NBA champion makes use of to terrorize defenders.
Nevertheless, Fears did not shoot in addition to Poole did from deep in faculty, as the previous notched a 28.4 p.c clip whereas the latter had a 37 p.c mark over two seasons at Michigan. Fears may take an identical path on the subsequent degree if his shot develops properly over time, as Poole shot simply 27.9 p.c from downtown as a rookie in 2019-20 earlier than leaping to 35.1 the next season. He additionally recorded a career-best 37.8 p.c mark on a career-high 9.1 makes an attempt per sport this season.
That stated, Fears nonetheless averaged 17.1 factors on 43.4 p.c capturing with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a freshman for the Sooners, showcasing his means to hold his group within the clutch. That was particularly evident of their 67-59 loss to defending-champion UConn within the first spherical of the NCAA Match, when he led the squad with 20 factors and 4 assists.
Fears has the other subject of Johnson, as he should develop a greater long-range shot to enrich his dynamic downhill sport. The 6-foot-4-inch, 182-pounder additionally should enhance his ball safety, as he averaged 3.4 turnovers in comparison with Johnson’s 1.8.
Regardless, Fears has the expertise to develop into Washington’s long-term playmaker, and he’d be a wise choice if Bailey, Edgecombe, and Johnson are all off the board.
Commerce down: G Egor Demin, BYU
That is the place it will get difficult, as Demin may get picked wherever from the lottery to No. 20. Nevertheless, if the Wizards aren’t in love with Johnson or Fears, they might commerce down with a group that’s and purchase extra belongings. For instance, they might slide right down to a double-digit decide, get Demin, and take one other participant with their No. 18 choice from the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 6-foot-9-inch, 199-pound guard possesses a uncommon mix of measurement, playmaking, and defensive versatility. His capturing was problematic with the Cougars, as he notched only a 41.2 p.c clip from the sector, 27.3 p.c from deep, and 69.5 p.c from the charity stripe. Nevertheless, he could possibly be a particular facilitator on the subsequent degree, as his 5.5 assists per sport bested all different prospects talked about to this point. He additionally strikes with out the ball and helps the offense keep away from stagnation.
Having a main playmaker even be a plus perimeter and a assist defender inside is a singular weapon for any group, and it may assist Washington ultimately achieve a aggressive edge as its core develops. Demin is simply two inches shorter than former NBA champion and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who averaged 10.2 assists this season. He is unlikely to ever attain the most effective participant on the planet’s degree, however it’s a reminder of what is attainable when bigger gamers can playmake.
Getting Demin on prime of one other prospect in an identical vary, in addition to extra belongings, can be laborious to argue with as a price play for the Wizards.