How do you plug a hole for one of the most exciting offensively minded teams in the league? You draft De’Andre Hunter, that’s how.
For a team that’s loaded with a young core of offensive aficionados, grabbing a defensive anchor should be a priority for the Hawks. Hunter fits the bill to perfection, with his lengthy 7-foot-2 wingspan capable of locking down opposing team’s best player. Seen in his complete defensive dominance over Jarrett Culver in the national championship game, perhaps the various comparisons to Kawhi Leonard are justified.
Hunter’s 43.8 percent shooting from deep will also complement Trae Young’s ability to create good looks for his teammates. The Hawks luck out here with taking the best player available that also fills one of their needs.
The Washington Wizards are in a very tricky situation, considering John Wall will be making north of 40 million dollars per year until the summer of 2023. Considering this, they will need to carefully plan ahead in the draft for the next several seasons.
Regardless if the Wizards decide to trade all-star Bradley Beal or not, Washington should be looking for players with the highest potential ceiling in five years once they’re free of Wall’s albatross contract. Nobody fits that criteria better than Cam Reddish, who has all the tools to become a great three-point threat and defensive presence.
While his struggles at Duke were very concerning, playing behind two other superstars can seriously affect performance. Just ask eleven-time all-star Chris Bosh, who saw his advanced stats dip significantly in Miami when he decided to play with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Gambling on Reddish would be the best move for the Wizards at six.