Washington Wizards 2024 NBA Draft Picks: Who did Eastern Conference team pick? Full list of selections
The Washington Wizards are looking to rebuild their team through the draft, picking three times in the first round. Winning only 15 games last season, the Wizards set themselves up for bouncing back, as they drafted second overall, 14th overall and 24th overall this year.
Headlining their picks for this year’s draft was No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, who last played for the Perth Wildcats in the NBL Australia. Coming alongside him is Bub Carrington at No. 14 and Kyshawn George at No. 24.
Sarr, who stands seven-foot-one, became the Wizards’ highest draft selection in 14 years. The big man hailing from France is expected to mold into a cornerstone of the team with his defensive brilliance and evolving scoring tools.
Sarr can play the pick-and-roll game well in whichever position he plays and has a knack for transition scoring. The hope is for him to grow into a serviceable shooter in the long run, which could open up the Wizards’ offense.
Meanwhile, Carrington could be the spitfire guard the Wizards need after departing with Bradley Beal and John Wall. Carrington is a big guard, at six-foot-four, and is elite on the offensive end, bringing Washington a much-needed boost on offense after finishing 25th last year in offensive rating.
The 14th pick, which turned out to be Carrington, was traded by the Portland Trail Blazers to the Wizards earlier in the day in a deal that brought Deni Avdija to Portland and Malcolm Brogdon to Washington.
Carrington averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists with St. Frances Academy in Pittsburgh. He also shot 49% from the field, 385 from 3 and 86% from the free-throw line en route becoming the first player in nearly a decade to score 1000 points in a season for his school.
The Wizards also traded for the 24th pick in the draft, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and selected Kyshawn George. The six-foot-nine guard has massive upside to become a scorer, something the Wizards will need in their rebuild.
George averaged 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in his lone season in college.
Alex Sarr breaks down in tears after being drafted by the Wizards
Alex Sarr showed his emotions after the Washington Wizards drafted him second overall in the 2024 NBA draft.
"Everywhere I’ve played has built me for this moment," said Sarr in an interview with ESPN’s Monica McNutt.
He also thanked his family, including his brother and NBA player Olivier Sarr for helping him prepare for the NBA.
"Everything I learned is through (Olivier). ... I know what it’s like to go undrafted, and to be a top pick now is really special," Sarr added.
Sarr is expected to be the main piece of the rebuilding Wizards, who traded away longtime franchise player Bradley Beal and reigning NBA champion Kristaps Porzingis last year.