It may be a down year for the draft, but that doesn't mean the Wizards are disappointed about moving up five slots in the lottery to the third overall pick. Washington had the eighth-worst record in the league this year and just a 4.8 percent chance of moving into the lottery, but will end up picking third on Thursday evening, behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic.
The Cavs are expected to take either Kentucky's Nerlens Noel or Maryland's Alex Len - both centers - with the first overall pick. The Magic, picking at No. 2, will almost certainly take Noel if the Cavs don't. If Noel is off the board, however, things get murky. They could go with shooting guards in Victor Oladipo (Indiana) or Ben McLemore (Kansas), point guard in the class in Trey Burke (Michigan), or small forward Otto Porter (Georgetown).
In a draft filled with prospects and projects, no one is as polished as Otto Porter. With the Hoyas last year the 6' 9", 198-pound sophomore averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds last year to go along with 2.7 assists and 42 percent three-point shooting, and is ready to play in the NBA right now. In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Chad Forde said sources had told him that the Wizards are leaning heavily towards taking Porter, with UNLV's Anthony Bennett as the other option.
Here's Forde:
With so much up in the air in this draft, Porter to the Wizards at No. 3 remains a constant. He's appeared here in every mock and I think it's unlikely we move him. While the Wizards have a lot of interest in Anthony Bennett, sources say they are now leaning toward taking Porter at No. 3. He fits a need, fits their culture and, like Oladipo, is viewed as a sure thing by many NBA GMs and scouts.
He may not be third-overall talent, but it's hard to beat a "sure thing."
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