The basketball gods did not smile upon the Washington Wizards on Monday night. Despite sharing the best odds to land the top pick, the Wizards landed the sixth pick in the NBA’s draft lottery.
The Dallas Mavericks secured the top selection in the draft. They won the lottery for the first time in franchise history despite having just a 1.8% chance.
The San Antonio Spurs nabbed the second pick. The Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz — in that order — round out the top five.
Wizards fans crossed their fingers and prayed that the ping-pong balls would favor the District. It didn’t work.
Instead, Dallas received the top pick. They’ll likely use it to take Duke phenom Flagg, who is widely considered one of the best prospects in a generation.
“These are the types of things you dream about as a kid,” Flagg said before the lottery in Chicago.
The lucky draw couldn’t have arrived at a better time for the Mavericks. Dallas’ front-office was lambasted by fans and media members after trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.
The trade, which sent forward Anthony Davis to Dallas, was seen as an embarrassing return for the Mavericks. Now, Dallas general manager Nico Harrison will have a chance to add a new foundational piece.
But the result left the District’s basketball fans crying that the lottery is rigged. Alternatively, local diehards and radio hosts reasoned, the Wizards are cursed. The sixth pick was the lowest possibility for Washington, based on their 18-64 record last season.
Washington narrowly missed out on the top selection last year, instead adding center Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick. The Wizards have not won the lottery since they picked John Wall in 2010.
Missing out on Flagg is a new level of hurt, though.
He’s the kind of player who can shift a franchise’s fortune. Several draft experts have called Flagg the best American prospect since LeBron James.
Flagg piled up the accolades in his lone collegiate season, receiving the John Wooden Award, ACC Player of the Year honors and being named a consensus first-team All-American.
The 18-year-old stuffed the stat sheet, leading the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks throughout their run to the Final Four.
“I think he’s the most complete freshman Duke has ever had,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “That’s saying something.”
Flagg has the shooting prowess to keep up in the offense-focused modern NBA and the size to become an impact defender as a rookie.
Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will be the likely second and third picks for the Spurs and 76ers, respectively. Harper has been praised for his on-court awareness and ability to orchestrate an offense. Bailey’s positional size as a 6-foot-10 wing — combined with a clean shooting stroke — makes him an intriguing prospect.
This year’s draft lacks a consensus after Bailey and Harper. A Washington team with plenty of holes could add Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe or one of Flagg’s former teammates: guard Kon Knueppel or 7-foot-2-inch center Khaman Maluach.
Maryland’s Derik Queen offers a hometown angle for the Wizards. The Baltimore native became a household name after his buzzer-beater sent the Terrapins to the Sweet 16.
The Wizards also have the No. 18 pick in the first round.
The NBA draft, which became a two-night event last season, begins on June 25.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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