Make no mistake: The Wizards’ new front office loved Deni Avdija.
They’re the ones who signed him to a four-year, $55 million extension last fall. And Avdija had a very, very good season in Washington last year, posting career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists, and improving greatly from deep (career-best .374 on 3s).
But… it wasn’t the team management that selected him. So they weren’t attached to him the way they are to Bilal Coulibaly, whom Washington acquired in a draft-night trade last season from Indiana.
The Wizards were determined to add a second first-round pick this year, so they could take another chance on someone with lottery potential in the future, besides whoever they choose with the second pick this year. evening.
At 14, they’ll now get that chance, in addition to adding another first-round pick (2029) and two future seconds to their growing cache of draft picks. According to multiple league sources, the Wizards brought in Pitt freshman guard Bub Carrrington for a last-minute visit in the days leading up to tonight’s draft.
Carrington is considered one of the top young point guards available in the draft, having made the All-Rookie Team last season in the ACC and earning honorable mentions for the All-ACC Team.
He has fans across the NBA who appreciate his toughness — he’s from Baltimore, where he starred at St. Frances Academy — and his potential as a versatile point guard. Carrington is one of the youngest players available in the draft; he doesn’t turn 19 until July 21.
If the Wizards come out of this draft with a young guard, whether it’s Carrington or Duke’s Jared McCain or USC’s Isaiah Collier, plus their expected selection of 7-1 center Alexandre Sarr with the second pick, they will have launched their reconstruction seriously.
It’s unclear whether that includes Malcolm Brogdon, an unrestricted free agent after this season.
