NBA Draft Lottery. (Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports)
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Washington Wizards are exploring the idea of shopping their first-round draft pick.
With the NBA Finals nearing its conclusion, that means the Draft is only a short time away. The 2022 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 23 live from Barclays Center from Brooklyn, N.Y. One of the most exciting portions of the event is when trades take place. Could one team be looking to move out of their spot?
According to NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), the Washington Wizards are looking to move their 10th-overall pick if the right trade were to come around.
Wizards looking to trade the 10th-overall pick
Stein points out that the Wizards could be a team looking to make a win-now move. He also names the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers as teams looking to do the same thing. Of course, that is all dependent on whether Washington can find a taker.
Washington made the decision to move on from Scott Brooks as head coach, hiring Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. to replace him. The Wizards had a 35-47 record this season, earning them a fourth-place finish in the Southeast Division. Unfortunately for them, they finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, meaning they did not qualify for the play-in tournament.
This offseason, Washington will wait to see if star Bradley Beal will accept his $36.4 player option for next season. If not, he would be eligible for a five-year, $245.6 million contract with the team, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
One thing is known for sure, and that is the Wizards are considering moving on from their first-round pick with the purpose of getting the team closer to making a return to the playoffs.