WASHINGTON (7News) — Yes, that happened. The Washington Wizards were selected for the sixth overall pick in next month’s draft after this week’s NBA Draft Lottery.
The pick is nothing short of a disappointment, as the farthest Washington could fall was to that sixth spot.
So, the reality is this: despite having the second-to-worst record in the NBA this season, Washington will pick sixth. They also have the Memphis Grizzlies’ 18th overall pick, which they acquired in the Marcus Smart trade.
Washington was tied with Utah and Charlotte with the highest odds of landing the top pick at 14%. They also had an over 50% chance of picking in the top four and an 80% chance of landing in the top five.
Instead, the basketball gods gave their good fortunes to the Dallas Mavericks, who will pick number one overall. They are largely expected to draft Duke standout Cooper Flagg.
Monday’s outcome did not just bring sadness to the Washington faithful but also a dose of deja vu. The last time the Wizards selected sixth overall was 2011. They also had the 18th pick that year. The team utilized those picks to draft Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton, respectively. Vesely and Singleton would go on to have forgettable NBA careers, as neither player was in the league beyond their rookie contracts.
If Wizards fans are looking for a silver lining, look no further than GM Will Dawkins and team president Michael Winger. Although they are still early in their respective tenures with the Wizards, early signs indicate they have an eye for talent.
Last year’s draft editions, Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Keyshawn George, were all forced to play extensive minutes during their rookie campaigns and had to grow up quickly. As a result, their progress as the year progressed was impossible to ignore. Fans can only assume these franchise cornerstones will continue to trend in the right direction, with hopes that Dawkins and Winger will continue to add talent around them.
The 2025 NBA Draft begins June 25.