Strong points
- Isaiah Collier is expected to lead the Washington Wizards rebuild.
- Collier possesses a rare blend of skill, athleticism and size.
- Collier has the “it” factor with scoring and playmaking abilities.
At 9:51 a.m., the Wizards of Washington are on par with the Detroit Pistons for the worst record of NBA. As a result, they are currently one of the three teams with the highest odds of landing the No. 1 pick in 2024. NBA Draftbittersweet news amid their lackluster performance this season.
Armed with a draft asset that will have huge implications for the future of the franchise, the main focus of the Wizards front office should already be evaluating which top prospect should be the face of their rebuild.
Isaiah Collier should be the face of the Wizards’ rebuild
Jordan Poole was demoted and Tyus Jones could leave in free agency
From top projected prospects, Perth big man Alexandre Sarr and Serbian point guard Nikola Topic are the players most often linked to the Wizards. In Sarr’s case, the Wizards would select a player with defensive potential thanks to his length, athleticism and shot-blocking instincts.
Sarr also has an intriguing set of offensive skills coveted by teams looking for modern centers. Topic is another actor who fits a popular archetype; a giant-sized point guard at 6-foot-6, 201 pounds.
However, the player Washington needs is not a projected top-three player at all. Not currently, at least, although he was once considered in the running for the top pick before scouts became intrigued by lesser-known prospects.
On the heels of Jordan Poole’s demotion to the second unit and with the possibility of starting point guard Tyus Jones leaving the Wizards this offseason as a free agent, a backcourt piece is the right target for Washington .
However, rather than Topic, the potential point guard expected to be the face of the Wizards’ rebuild is USC’s Isaiah Collier.
Isaiah Collier has the “it” factor
2023-24 Stats: 17.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 49.6 FG%, 32.9 3P%
USC’s Isaiah Collier entered the 2023-24 season as one of the top point guards in the 2024 NBA Draft. Not surprising, considering Collier was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023 coming out of high school.
However, as USC’s losses began to pile up, Collier’s inconsistent defensive efforts caused him to slide down the draft boards. Then, a hand injury in mid-January and the familiar lure of less-heralded prospects meant Collier became nothing more than an afterthought.
Subsequently, when evaluating lottery prospects, Collier’s name appears behind Nikola Topic, Reed Sheppard, Ja’Kobe Walter and Rob Dillingham, and that only applies to backcourt players.
This is a huge mistake on the part of scouts, however, as Collier possesses a rare blend of skill, athleticism and size. Still, this allows the Wizards to target him without worrying too much about whether they would be able to draft him even if they don’t get the No. 1 pick.
At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, the 19-year-old is well-built with a body already suited to an NBA physique.
Still, Collier is shifty, even slippery, and excels at creating shots for himself off the dribble. Although he is capable of scoring at all three levels, his shooting range extends well beyond the NBA three-point line. As such, he could be considered a finesse player, but he is a downhill scorer who can score on a wide variety of goals once he gets in the lane.
Additionally, his gravitas as a scorer lends to his point guard play, as Collier makes excellent reads as an ambidextrous and creative live dribble passer.
On the other end of the floor, his size increases his defensive ceiling and makes him a feasible multi-position defender. Meanwhile, his anticipation and quick hands off the ball are undeniably special.
In evaluating his game, he has the intangible factor that future stars are imbued with. It remains to be seen what the dose will be. However, it’s at least enough for him to be a key player for the Wizards for the foreseeable future.
Looking at his numbersCollier had at least 20 points in almost a third of the his matches this season. His goalscoring instinct is undeniable. In fact, the freshman ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in points per game (17.0). He’s also dished out at least five assists in nearly a third of his games this season, regularly displaying his feel and basketball IQ.
At this point, Collier ranks third in the Pac-12 in assists per game (4.1). Finally, Collier ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in steals per game (1.6). All of this highlights its overall productivity.
|
USC freshman impact G Isaiah Collier |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Category |
Statistical |
Pac-12 Rank |
|
PPG |
17.0 |
6th |
|
APG |
4.1 |
3rd |
|
GSP |
1.6 |
5th |
Like any prospect, Collier has weaknesses. In his case, it’s his inconsistent defense, unforced turnovers, and efficiency from beyond the arc. However, if the goal is to find players who possess not only the most translatable strengths but also the fewest alarming weaknesses, Collier is undoubtedly the Wizards’ best prospect.
Not only is he talented enough to be worthy of being picked in a vacuum, but he fits right in alongside their centerpieces because of the way he creates clichés for himself and others.
In becoming the face of the Wizards’ rebuild, Collier would — fortunately — take over Jordan Poole’s role. Poole, while well-meaning and a player who truly loves the sport, has a disreputable reputation that is not ideal for the leader or face of a franchise. Conversely, described as a player with a “dog” mentalityCollier will have the right mentality to get the Wizards through their dog days rather than passively accepting his fate.
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