Wizards Projected to Land Top PG in NBA Draft

The Washington Wizards are improving their backcourt in the latest 2025 NBA mock draft.
Dec 30, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) looks to pass as Columbia Lions guard Avery Brown (25) and forward Jake Tavroff (34) defend during the second half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Dec 30, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Dylan Harper (2) looks to pass as Columbia Lions guard Avery Brown (25) and forward Jake Tavroff (34) defend during the second half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are expected to have a very high draft pick this year in what's expected to be a loaded class of newcomers.

While the Wizards hope to get the No. 1 overall pick to potentially take freshman forward Cooper Flagg out of Duke, there isn't a guarantee for that to happen.

Bleacher Report analyst Jonathan Wasserman conducted a mock draft to start the new year and has Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper en route to the nation's capital with the No. 2 overall pick.

"Dylan Harper capped off 2024 with a triple-double against Columbia. With four three-point makes and 12 assists, it was the type of performance that could help sway evaluators from overthinking his shooting numbers or playmaking for a lead guard," Wasserman writes.

"He's still a scorer by identity, and the ability to get to spots, attack through contact, create easy finishing angles and hit tough shots will always set Harper apart."

While Harper is one of the best prospects in the draft, that doesn't mean there aren't flaws to his game.

"He would benefit from improving his pull-up and floater. He's currently able to rely on his strength and unteachable layup package, which he's converting at an outstanding 68.2 percent clip," Wasserman writes.

"Still, for an 18-year-old, there should be enough convincing shotmaking film to bet on Harper developing more consistency shooting off the dribble."

Harper would join a backcourt with Bub Carrington and Jordan Poole, which could end up building a traffic jam, but the Wizards should look to find a way to make it work.

The Wizards are in a position to where they should take the best player available, and if Harper is on the board when they are on the clock, it will be hard not to bring him to D.C.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.