The young core in Washington will get its newest member next week.
Will Dawkins has gone all-in on a rebuild. The team had one of its worst seasons in franchise history and was poised to replicate its lottery luck in 2024. The fall to the sixth pick was unprecedented, but not entirely hurtful.
The 2025 draft class has more upside and day one talent than last year’s. Dawkins has a plethora of options available. He could go with another French project player, trade up, trade back, or simply take the best player available.
Outside of the top two picks, the order in which players will go is anyone’s guess. Here are the best scenarios the Wizards have laid out ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
A DMV Reunion
Perhaps the most likely scenario. Derik Queen has been one of the most mocked names in Washington over the last month. Not only did he dominate at the college level, not too far from Washington, but he also has a familiar face to reunite with.
Former 14th overall pick, Bub Carrington, used to live three houses down from the five-star center. They went from playing basketball in each other’s driveways to now potentially playing alongside each other in DC.
As for Queen’s fit in Washington, he should be a day one contributor. He complements the defensive capabilities of Sarr with an expansive offensive bag. His skill set is undeniable, with a rare handle outside the paint for someone of his size. He can produce at all three levels, with his three-point shooting being hit or miss. He makes up for those inefficiencies with his comfort from mid-range.
It’s unclear whether Brian Keefe would start a frontcourt of Queen and Sarr from the beginning. Keyshawn George could still start as the team’s four with Khris Middleton expected to accept his player option. If he remains on the team, that could give Queen the lead role off the bench.
Wizards Get Their Ace
This is the best possible outcome for the Wizards.
The curious case of Ace Bailey doesn’t start with his skill set. The Rutgers forward can do it all on offense and is an undeniable athlete. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony recently mocked Bailey to the Wizards at six due to an ambiguous pre-draft process. Bailey came in significantly smaller than he was listed at the combine. With him going from 6-foot-10 to 6-foot-7, teams may not view him as versatile as they used to.
Bailey has yet to meet with a single team, with the 76ers being the only visit he has scheduled, after initially declining to visit. Givony further detailed this potential fade from Philadelphia, saying, “[Edgecomb] appears to be ‘the leader in the clubhouse’ currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. NBA executives say Bailey has been polarizing in internal front office conversations because of questions about his feel for the game and lack of polish, creating a wider draft range than initially anticipated.”
The Wizards have traded up in the last two years. If they fear that Bailey could go high, Dawkins wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger if he’s at the top of their board. If Bailey desires a path to stardom, Washington would give him the best individual opportunity. As unlikely as it seems, the traction between Bailey and DC is at its peak.
The Other Trade
Bailey is not the only candidate for the Wizards to trade up for. Givony stated in the same breath talking about Bailey’s potential fall that, “Should Edgecombe not be selected [at three], most teams expect him to be drafted one pick later by Charlotte at No. 4, but he has also worked out in front of Washington in the predraft process, an indication there might be some trade scenarios in play with the Wizards moving up, potentially as high as No. 3.”
This would be yet another instance of Dawkins getting his guy. Edgecombe has impressed some teams and left others with too much on the table. Washington was not one of those visits. This is perhaps even less likely than Bailey, but draft night is known for its unpredictability. The Baylor wing is an athletic monster with skills you can’t teach. A pairing of him and Coulibaly could be one of the league’s top slahing duos.
Like Coulibaly, Edgecombe’s jumper needs to show more consistency.
The same tenacity he brings on offense is reciprocated on defense. He would come in and rival Sarr for the best on-ball defender on the team. He’s a flexible defender who can make an impact down low as well. Edgecombe has too many tools for him to fall out of the top four, so if Washington were to land the Baylor star, it would have to be in a trade.
A Lone Star Scorer
If Queen isn’t the pick at six, Tre Johnson should be.
The jury is still out on where teams value Johnson. It’s undeniable he’s the best shooter in this class. His shot looks natural and pure every time he pulls up. It doesn’t matter if he’s set or on the move, Johnson is pulling up with confidence. He was one of the nation’s top scorers and made an impact with every minute he was given.
However, major questions remain on Johnson’s defense. He has the height to maneuver around the wing, but the technique and instincts are where problems arise. His slim frame also takes away from his on-ball physicality. He sometimes struggles to fight off-screens and recover.
The Wizards could benefit from having an offense star like Johnson, but they’ve recently favored defense-savvy wings. The only exception to this would be Bub Carrington, but Johnson doesn’t have the court vision that he does. Johnson is also a name that the Wizards could consider trading down for despite these flaws. None of that takes away from the undeniable gifts he possesses as a scorer.
The 2025 NBA Draft commences on Wednesday, June 25.
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