The 2024 draft class was one many fans were out on before names were even selected.
The consistent narrative was that this was one of the weaker classes in decades. There was no bona fide number one pick, and it was heavily influenced by the international movement that continues to take over the NBA today.
One of the argued top prospects was French big man Alex Sarr. His defensive tools were very apparent, but he had a raw offensive arsenal. That led to prospects like Zaccharie Risacher and Stephon Castle being discussed with higher regard.
Still, the Wizards thought they landed the best prospect in the draft when they got Sarr second overall.
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A Not-So Sunny Summer
It didn’t take long for Sarr to face criticism.
This may have been the first time fans have quit on a player based on Summer League.
Sarr was brought in as a high-upside project offensively, and he looked the part. He averaged just 5.5 points per game, coming in as the lowest scoring average of any first-round pick who played at least four games in the summer.
Sarr’s most infamous game was his 0-for-15 outing against the Trail Blazers. This single preseason game made him a laughing stock. Simply put, Sarr had his chance taken away by NBA fans before he played a regular-season minute.
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Sarr Begins to Shine
Maybe it was best that Sarr didn’t have a spotlight on him for the majority of his rookie year. Ridiculing someone looking for motivation is the best way to fuel progress. Sarr was judged before he put on a Wizards jersey. He had a chance to show out on a small-market, rebuilding franchise that was all in on youth.
Want to know how irrelevant Summer League was? Reed Sheppard was one of the most exciting players in college basketball and had a stellar summer performance. He concluded his rookie year with just four points per game on 35% shooting from the field. The Rockets were in an entirely different situation from Washington this year, but a third overall pick should be able to find his way into the rotation consistently.
Sarr’s development has been shockingly quiet compared to his summer criticism. He went from a preseason bust candidate to one of the league’s top rookies. The Frenchman established himself as an emphatic shot blocker and became more than just a lob threat on offense. He started pulling up from beyond the arc with more confidence, with efficiency closely following suit.
In the blink of an eye, the former Perth Wildcat became a strong building block for the Wizards.
Patience is Key
Now, if you read that and simply think Reed Sheppard is a bust instead of Alex Sarr, you’re truly missing the point.
This past year’s class was always about depth. Most talent were good role players in year one with high upside in the following years. Sarr needed as many minutes as possible to develop, and Washington did just that. Sheppard needs to slowly work his way into a playoff team’s system. A successful draft pick can not be decided within a player’s first 82 games.
It took Sarr until March to have his breakout game.
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Looking at the rest of Washington’s rookies, they follow the same trend. Bub Carrington flashed plenty but didn’t have outstanding stats. He showed his worth with his availability by playing in all 82 games. Keyshawn George was one of the best shooters in his class despite injury shortening the back half of his year.
AJ Johnson was perhaps the most interesting story. The former Buck was traded to the Wizards in the Kyle Kuzma trade alongside Khris Middleton. He began to shine the moment he stepped into Washington, simply because they gave him a chance.
The Wizards quickly realized that if no one was going to give this year’s class a chance, they had no choice but to take advantage of other teams’ lack of patience. What came of it was a class that meshed perfectly with each other and set the stage for a bright future in Washington.
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Looking Forward to 2025
The Wizards know they’re far from competing.
They’re the perfect landing spot for a player looking for a chance. So many teams have lost the art of building a team due to the headlines that the free agent and trade markets can create. Looking at how the Thunder have made a young team one to fear, both now and late, this should be the blueprint for Will Dawkins.
The Suns have showcased what a lack of patience does to a team. Sacrificing your future for a team that doesn’t even compete with the young guys was never going to work. 2025 has way more high-end talent, but fans can’t give up on them in the summer.
The draft is still the ideal way to build. No matter the narrative of the class, the least the league can do for these young stars is give them the time they’ve fought their whole life for.
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