Two Years Later, Wizards One of Biggest Winners From 2024 Draft

While the on-court product lagged, the Washington Wizards were intentional in how general manager Will Dawkins and the front office wanted to rebuild the roster. The NBA Draft has allowed several pieces to develop within the organization, and although Dawkins previously noted that not all the pieces will make it through the end of the transition into a hopeful contending team, what has become increasingly apparent is the Wizards are among the top winners from the 2024 NBA Draft.

Though Alex Sarr was one of two original draft picks by the team, the Wizards walked away from the first round of the 2024 Draft with three new pieces with Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington becoming key pieces through the first two seasons.

After George was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 24th overall pick, a draft night trade sent the Miami (FL) star to Washington in exchange for a pair of picks, including Dillon Jones who came off the board two picks later. Roughly one week later, the Deni Avdija trade materialized that landed Carrington in Washington along with Malcolm Brogdon and additional future draft capital.

Two years later, the moves have blossomed into core pieces along the roster.

Sarr enters year three with a chance to cement himself among the NBA's top big men after already flashing his defensive presence across the 48 games he was available in year two, proving his clear year one to year two development as a key part of the foundation. The French big man has proven why he's cemented

as part of the future while he enjoys a lethal frontcourt pairing next to Anthony Davis in year three.

Similar could be said for George, who may be viewed as the favorite to round out the starting five. The big guard has lineup flexibility along the wing, offers length to upgrade the starting five's defensive ceiling and proven himself as a capable inside-out scorer. Though the shot volume in year three will be drastically smaller than his first two seasons, George has a chance to prove why he's an efficient two way player whose play translates to wins.

The question mark is Bub Carrington, who may see his role change most as a result of the roster moves made over the last nine months. Yet the Baltimore native will be an opportunity to man the second unit, a potential sign of Washington's upgraded depth in the rotation. He'll have an opportunity to thrive as a facilitator with multiple scoring pieces around him, though Carrington posted his second 30-point game in the final home game in 2025-26 while leading the team in three point shooting among Wizards who played at least 25 games and ended the regular season in Washington.

Yet big picture, the Wizards adding likely two starters and a rotational piece could be what puts them among the biggest winners two years later.

They aren't alone, especially after Stephon Castle proved to be a big part of the Spurs' foundation after ranking third in scoring on last year's team that fell short in the NBA Finals. Between Keyonte George and Brice Sensabaugh, maybe the Utah Jazz have an argument to make, while the Portland Trail Blazers have a productive piece in center Donovan Clingan. Jared McCain, meanwhile, was a productive piece for the Thunder after a surprising trade from Philadelphia.

Still, it still may be fair to say that the Wizards struck gold and found the best value to best address its needs in moves that have continued to largely prove the front office right.