NBA Notes: Wizards, lottery, Hornets, Hawks, offseason

Wizards

The Wizards know where they’re picking. They just don’t know exactly where.

Washington is guaranteed a top-five selection in Sunday’s draft lottery and view this class as having as many as six potential stars at the top, according to David Aldridge and Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

If they land at No. 1 or 2, the expectation is straightforward. It likely comes down to AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson.

Further down the board, things get more interesting.

If Washington falls to No. 5 and the top names are gone, Robbins points to Darius Acuff as a potential target. The sense is the Wizards feel good about their options regardless.

The key is landing high enough to have a real choice.

Hornets

Charlotte took a step forward. Ownership wants more.

Co-owners Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall expressed optimism about the team’s progress this season, while making it clear the job is far from finished, via Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer.

“We feel great about our leadership team… but we have a lot of work to do,” Schnall said.

The Hornets showed growth but also recognize the gap between being competitive and being a playoff threat.

“We’re not going to be satisfied just being a competitive team,” Schnall said. “We will do everything we can to get better.”

That includes continuing to build around a core they believe fits their identity.

Hawks

Atlanta’s season landed somewhere in the middle.

Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution handed out grades, with Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum earning the top marks at B+.

The coaching staff and front office also came in at a B.

In other words, solid. Not spectacular.

A team that did some things well, but still has another level to reach.