Bailey? Queen? Fears? Wizards have options with two first-round picks in NBA draft

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins has his work cut out for him as Washington prepares for another draft following an unlucky lottery draw.

Despite finishing with the second-worst record in the league, the Wizards are slated to pick sixth and 18th in the first round of Wednesday’s draft. 

To make matters worse, the Wizards slipped in a draft widely seen as a three-man class. A steep perceived drop-off follows the top prospects: Duke phenom Cooper Flagg and the Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. 

For most of the draft process, Washington has been tied to the second wave of incoming rookies. Maybe V.J. Edgecombe, the athletic guard from Baylor, could fall to them. Duke’s Kon Knueppel or Texas’ Tre Johnson could add their shooting prowess to a young Wizards squad. 

But the intrigue moved into overdrive this month as Bailey, the third-ranked prospect on most big boards, skipped pre-draft workouts. 

The Rutgers product cancelled a planned workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the third pick, last week. The 18-year-old is the only American prospect who hasn’t visited any NBA team ahead of the draft. 

Rumors have started flying. 

Some insiders speculated that the 18-year-old wing was trying to force his way to a destination that would allow him to blossom into a star as a primary scoring option. 

The 76ers, with former MVP Joel Embiid still on the roster, don’t fit the bill.

Bailey possesses a pure shooting stroke that projects well to the modern NBA. His size — Rutgers listed him at 6 feet, 10 inches, though he measured 2 1/2 inches shorter at the NBA combine — would allow him the versatility to switch on almost any opponent on defense. 

“[Kevin Durant], Paul George, Jayson Tatum and [Tracy McGrady],” Bailey told reporters at the combine of his inspirations on the court. “I can see some [Carmelo Anthony] in me, too. We create shots; we can shoot over defenders, create our own space.”

He isn’t a slam dunk as a top pick, though. His vision on the court needs development, as does his willingness on defense. Shot selection was an issue at Rutgers, too. 

But the biggest red flags emerged off the court. 

“The feedback from his interviews at the draft combine in Chicago was not all that positive, with some teams expressing concern about his lack of preparation and focus,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported. 

A perfect storm could send Bailey to Washington. 

It would be a coup for Dawkins and the Wizards, whose future-focused timeline would allow the youngster to mature on and off the court before contending for a playoff berth. 

Landing a top-three prospect at No. 6 would ease the pain of another draft slide for long-suffering Wizards fans. 

But there’s no guarantee that Bailey will still be around when the Wizards are on the clock. 

The 76ers could snag him with the third pick — it wouldn’t be the first time Daryl Morey, Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, selected a player without a pre-draft workout. 

The franchise grabbed Tyrese Maxey in 2020 and Jared McCain last year without the customary on-court work. 

Beyond Bailey, analysts have tied the Wizards to guard Jeremiah Fears. The Oklahoma product impressed scouts during his lone season with the Sooners as one of the youngest players in college basketball. 

The 18-year-old was originally slated to join Oklahoma this fall but recommitted and made an immediate impact. Fears averaged 17.1 points with 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a freshman. 

The shooting efficiency needs work — Fears made 28.5% of his three-pointers on 43.3% shooting — but the teenager’s ability to drive into the paint and create opportunities for his teammates could immediately translate to the NBA. 

The Wizards could use a versatile wing like Bailey or an on-ball facilitator like Fears, but their needs don’t end there. Washington, after their seventh straight losing season, has needs around the court. 

Those needs could lead to the Wizards taking Derik Queen — a center from Maryland — in the first round. The hometown appeal is obvious for the District’s basketball fans after Queen led the Terrapins to the Sweet Sixteen last season. 

His buzzer-beater over Colorado State in the second round sent the region into a frenzy. Queen will likely never have to buy his own drinks in College Park, Maryland — when the 20-year-old can legally drink, that is. 

Queen’s strengths are obvious to anyone who watched Maryland’s March Madness run — his slick handles and tough finishes made him a star in college. His agility and passing prowess as a 247-pound, 6-foot-9 center are unique.

But Queen isn’t a rim protector or a lights-out shooter. His ability to adapt to the NBA’s speed and size remains to be seen. Joining a Wizards front court with Alex Sarr — last year’s No. 2 overall pick who flashed the ability to swat shots and drain threes as a rookie — could be a solid fit for the Maryland product. 

Queen might be a reach at No. 6, though. He’d be a more likely option for the Wizards if they trade their first selection and move back or if they trade the 18th pick to move up in the first round.

The first round begins at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in Brooklyn. The second round will follow on Thursday night.