NBA Rumors: Wizards, Draft, Raptors, Bruce Brown, Sixers

Wizards

The Wizards own the No. 2 overall pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft and word is, they fully intend to keep it.

“The Wizards are likely to remain at No. 2 as well, where Washington has the league convinced it’s focused on selecting Alex Sarr from the Perth Wildcats,” wrote Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. “The Wizards, according to people familiar with the situation, invested the most time and resources of any NBA club sending various personnel to Australia to evaluate Sarr.”

From the sounds of things, Sarr would welcome the idea of playing for the Wizards.

“This situation is also considered the preferred outcome from Sarr’s camp, as it’s become well known that Sarr has so far declined to work out for Atlanta,” Fischer added. “Washington does also hold the No. 26 pick and is a prime candidate to potentially move up from that slot, sources said, in addition to the Wizards trying to find a third first-round choice.”

• The Wizards could be a player in free agency, but should rely mostly on the draft, wrote Chris Herring of ESPN. “Someone like Precious Achiuwa, who filled in admirably in New York, would make a lot of sense,” Herring wrote. “Washington has the $12.9 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception available to address its shortcomings. But above all else, the organization should seek to score big with its No. 2 (and No. 26) overall pick, in hopes of turning their fortunes around long term, as the team is still a ways off from contention.”
• Washington will also have to find a point guard. “When you’re coming off a season like the one Washington is, there are, obviously, a lot of needs,’ Herring added. “But there are two that are more glaring than the others: a starting-caliber point guard — current starter Tyus Jones is an unrestricted free agent — and a starting-caliber center.”
• Along with all that, the Wizards are expected to revisit Kyle Kuzma trade talks with the Kings, as we relayed here.

Raptors

The Raptors have been flying a bit under the radar, but fact is, they could be one of the NBA’s busiest teams this summer.

“Scottie Barnes, the former Rookie of the Year, is eligible for a rookie max extension, which — at five years for $215 million — would go down as the biggest contract in franchise history. That’s a no-brainer. The team should also prioritize Quickley, its starting point guard who is a restricted free agent, and pick up wing Bruce Brown‘s team option for $23 million, which would give Toronto the ability to deal him elsewhere later on.”

• Toronto is indeed expected to trade Brown this summer, as we relayed here.

76ers

Tobias Harris‘ contract is expiring and we can expect the Sixers to use that space to go after a bigger name this summer.

“The dream scenario — and the first thing the Sixers should be trying to do — is to land someone like LeBron James or Paul George, both of whom can opt out of their deals to become free agents,” Herring wrote. “If they fail on those fronts, a valuable two-way wing like Denver’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would make a lot of sense. Regardless of what happens with external free agents, Philly obviously has to bring back restricted free agent Tyrese Maxey, who made his first All-Star team this season and figures to be partnered with 2023 MVP Joel Embiid for years to come.”

• That said, the Sixers’ interest in George has “significantly waned,” as we relayed here. Nor are they believed to be as in on Bulls guard Zach LaVine as previously reported. (Full story.)