The Washington Wizards claimed the No. 3 pick at the 2013 NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night and will now have the opportunity to turn things around after a difficult end to the 2012-13 season. With young-and-upcoming guards John Wall and Bradley Beal already in place, it seems the Wizards are on their way to becoming relevant again in the Eastern Conference.
Washington Wizards claim No. 3 pick in 2013 NBA Draft lottery
The Wizards had just a 3.5 percent chance of winning the lottery, but still managed to move up into the top three.
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The Cavaliers, Magic and Wizards found themselves in the running in the top three for the No. 1 pick. Washington had just the eighth-best odds of winning the lottery, yet they still managed to find themselves in the running late. The No. 1 overall pick would’ve been nice, although there will be plenty of options for the team with the third pick.
The Cavs ended up winning the lottery for the second time in three years, with the Magic dropping to No. 2. Here is the full lottery order.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto)
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
Washington lost its last six games of the season, surpassing the 100-point mark only once during the stretch while allowing opponents to score 104.7. For the entire season, the team scored a paltry 93.2 points per contest. The caveat here is that Wall didn't play until January and gave the team an instant lift offensively upon returning to action.
So where will the Wizards go with their selection? With a young backcourt poised to lead the franchise into the future in Wall and Beal, all signs point to general manager Ernie Grunfeld going big and looking to bolster the frontcourt. Emeka Okafor and Nene are each 30 years old, so a young prospect such as Alex Len or Anthony Bennett could make sense, even if it takes them some time to develop. Nerlens Noel would be the ideal player, although he likely won't be around at No. 3.
If Washington is looking for an athletic wing, if could take a hard look at local product Otto Porter out of Georgetown. As the top-ranked small forward, Porter has size and a dynamic skill set that can make an impact right away.
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