NBA Draft

Washington Wizards Continue to Find Value in 2024 NBA Draft

The 2024 NBA Draft was cast aside by many as a class without talent, but the Washington Wizards have amassed massive talent from the draft.

Rylan Stiles

Mar 29, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (5) takes a shot during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Mar 29, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (5) takes a shot during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images / Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
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The 2024 NBA Draft was a polarizing class. In fact, many teams and pundits were viewing it as a stay away class littled with lackluster prospects. The Washington Wizards not only stayed in the class, but continued to buy talent from it throughout the year, as recently at the NBA Trade Deadline when they shipped Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks and got back AJ Johnson, the Bucks No. 23 pick in the draft.

This is on top of its rookie class that already featured No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, No. 14 pick Bub Carrington and No. 24 pick Kyshawn George who have all shown flashes throughout this season that have not been full of wins, but rather full of hope.

In the last five games for Johnson, four of them have seen him post nine or more points. Including the most impressive output of his career against the Brooklyn Nets in a game where he turned in 20 points, a rebound, four assists and a block en route to 43% shooting from the floor, 3-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc and 5-for-6 from the free throw line which shows how hard Johnson is getting downhill to generate contact and easy points for Washington.

The Wizards fell by three in that game and have posted another losing season but the future is bright in Washington with a brand new front office that has a great success rate in D.C. to date. With another high lottery pick on the way in a loaded 2025 NBA Draft class, the Wizards are on the brink of something special in the near future.

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Rylan Stiles
RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is lead beat writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network. 

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