North Carolina star Caleb Wilson could play with two NBA stars next season.
A new mock draft has North Carolina big man Caleb Wilson playing with two stars next season.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report has the Washington Wizards drafting Wilson with the fifth pick in this year's draft. That would pair Wilson with Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
Davis is a 10-time NBA All-Star, while Young is a four-time All-Star.
"The sting of Washington sliding back to No. 5 would be eased quite a bit by Wilson still being on the board," Buckley wrote. "He's almost always mocked within the first four picks. Executives reportedly increasingly believe Wilson could be the second player taken in June's draft,' per Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor.
"So, the value alone looks awesome here. The fit looks good from a lot of angles. A frontcourt combo of Wilson and Alex Sarr would be among the most athletic and versatile in the league. But the Wizards wouldn't have to force-feed Wilson minutes if he's not ready, since they have Anthony Davis around.
"Long-term, it's possible Wilson would eventually emerge as the best prospect in Washington. A lot will depend on his development as a shooter, but he's already a rim-wrecker, a max-effort hustler and a multi-positional defender. If he can harness a jumper and up the frequency of his flashes as an open-floor ball-handler, he could be a two-way star."
Wilson appeared in 24 games for UNC this season. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest while shooting 57.8% from the field, 25.9% from beyond the arc and 71.3% from the free-throw line.
Wilson was named a second-team Associated Press All-American, a distinction that will ensure that he will be included among the honored jerseys in the Smith Center rafters.
Many draft scouts have compared Wilson to six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O'Neal. If Wilson can have a career like O'Neal's, that would be a huge success.
The Wizards could make the playoffs next season if Wilson landed with Davis, Young and Alex Sarr. That would certainly be a fun team to watch.
Tar Heels Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things North Carolina Tar Heels. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.